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Recent Attack on Polish Man Treated as 'Racist' in UK

© Flickr / lewishamdreamerThe "No To Hate Crime" vigil in London's Trafalgar Square
The No To Hate Crime vigil in London's Trafalgar Square - Sputnik International
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A community in the north of England is feeling devastated after a recent attack on a Polish man left him hospitalized. Up to 30 men in Armley, Yorkshire allegedly attacked two Polish individuals in what police are calling a racist attack.

Officers found the victim lying unconscious on the ground with serious injuries to his head and face.

​West Yorkshire Police has confirmed that the attack is being treated as a racist incident while they conduct enquiries. Meanwhile, the town's councilor, Alison Lowe said that Armley was devastated.

​"Armley is a tolerant and welcoming community where I lived with my own children for 15 years, without incident. News of this terrible incident has left me both devastated and confused. This is not the Armley I know and love and I hope our communities will come together to show others that Armley is a safe place to live and work, despite the despicable actions of an ignorant few," Mrs. Lowe said.

The Union flag, (2L), the Scottish Saltire flag (2R) and the European Union (EU) flag (R) fly outside the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 25, 2016, following the pro-Brexit result of the UK's EU referendum vote - Sputnik International
Brexit Referendum Coincides With Unprecedented Rise in Hate Crime in UK
This latest attack on a Polish man in the north of England came on the same day Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May apologized to her counterpart in Poland for the recent spate of attacks on Poles in the UK which have increased since the referendum vote in favor of leaving the European Union.

According to the results from a Freedom of Information (FoI) request published by newspaper Yorkshire Post, there were 6,224 hate crimes recorded by 37 police forces in June 2016, compared to 5,405 during June 2015.

​Subsequent research carried out by Viridian Housing revealed that despite West Yorkshire recording a lower percentage rise of hate crime, up by 6.5 percent, it had the highest number of reported hate crimes in Yorkshire with 342 in June this year, the month leading up to the UK's EU referendum.

A British flag which was washed away by heavy rains the day before lies on the street in London, Britain, June 24, 2016 after Britain voted to leave the European Union in the EU BREXIT referendum. - Sputnik International
Britain Shows Its 'Two Faces' as People March in Silence for Murdered Polish Man

Viridian Housing, which provides 16,000 homes in the Midlands, West Sussex and London has reportedly started handing out so-called red cards to residents with information on them in case they need to report a hate crime.

Meanwhile, Poland's president, Andrzej Dudi has written to church leaders in Britain urging them to help prevent attacks on Polish people living in the UK. The letters to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of Westminster suggested that attacks on Poles could cause divisions between Polish and British people.

​The approach to the church by Poland's premiere follows the death of Polish man Arkadiusz Jozwik, who died from his injuries after being beaten by teenagers in Harlow, Essex. Duda asked churches to help "alleviate the adverse consequences of intolerance and xenophobia, including what appears to be a clear instance of aversion and animosity towards Poles."

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