The mother of an autistic teenager slashed across the neck for “looking at someone funny” today appealed for help to track down his attacker - after seeing a photo of his injuries go viral online.

Eamonn Finn, 16, was walking to a youth group in Pimlico, central London, for people with disabilities, when he came across three youths.

Before he could reach the end of his road, one of the men yelled “What are you f****ng looking at?” before lunging at him.

Eamonn started to run but was caught and stabbed in the neck - millimetres from his jugular artery.

His mother Margaret Finn is so desperate for her son’s attackers to be caught that two days later she posted a picture of his injuries on Facebook.

The picture has been shared almost 100,000 times in just 48 hours. Ms Finn, of Millbank, Westminster, said: “Eamonn is autistic and part of that means he doesn’t make a lot of eye contact.

“The only way he could have possibly been looking at anyone funny is at a glance. He was carrying an iPhone, headphones and a little money but none of that was taken. This was just a vicious, unprovoked attack.”

Eamonn began to run home but bumped into a police officer on the way. He was taken to St Mary’s Hospital and Ms Finn was contacted.

She said: “I was frantic. I had already called him three or four times because I’d checked and he hadn’t turned up for youth group.

“When the police called and said he had been stabbed in the neck I collapsed. The minute you hear neck, head or chest you know there is intent to fatally injure.

“I was picked up by the police and taken. As soon as I got there and I saw him sitting up I was so relieved. Then I just felt full of rage.”

Explaining how he felt after the ordeal, he said: “I felt very sad because I had been hurt and frightened.”

Ms Finn said: “They did far more than stab him, they’ve also taken away the only bit of independence he had, which took us almost two years to prepare him for.

“I’m now too frightened to let him back out. I’m really beginning to think the boys who tried to kill my son are going to get away with it.

“As a mum with an autistic son you are constantly trying to see the world through their eyes. It’s heartbreaking that someone would attack a boy so vulnerable.”

The attack happened at 7.20pm on June 4 on Regency Street, close to the junction with Causton Street.

The suspects are described as Hispanic or black and in their late teens or early twenties. Eamonn’s attacker has curly wet-look hair and was wearing a grey jumper.

Ms Finn last night thanked the tens of thousands of people who have shared her online appeal, saying she was “astounded” by the response but was concerned some had focused on the race of her son’s attackers.

She said: “On this occasion the assailants were black, but on balance, there are people from all races and backgrounds that care deeply for my son, because he is an amazing young man without judgement, which only serves to make me even prouder of him.”

Detective Constable Krishan Kapur said: “This appears to have been a random attack on a teenager who was heading to meet friends at a local youth club.

“I would appeal to anyone who saw the assault to contact police. It is fortunate that the victim’s injuries were not more severe as he was lashed across the neck.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Westminster CID on 07500 766464 or via 101. To remain anonymous please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.