A disturbing video was recorded by the victim of an apparent racially motivated assault in Surrey, B.C.
Sepehr, who asked that his full identity not be published, was walking down 104 Ave. around 11:15 a.m. on Christmas Day near the McDonald’s when he said he heard racist comments directed his way. Global News is not publishing his last name, nor the video itself, because of safety concerns.
“I had my head down and all of a sudden I thought I heard someone say, ‘Go back to your country,’” he told Global News.
“I noticed a couple of guys about 10 metres down (the road). So I decided to take out my phone out and start recording.”
Sepehr said the men started to use more racial slurs while walking towards him. Then one of the men aggressively approached him and punched him in the face, he said.
“(At first) I wasn’t even sure if I had been hit or not, but later I realized he definitely punched me. I am sore on my left side of my face.”
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Sepehr then went into the McDonald’s parking lot for safety where he was approached by a witness.
He then called the Surrey RCMP.
“I’ve lived in Canada for 20 years (and) I’ve never experienced anything like this,” he said.
“We don’t have … to love each other and all that, you know, but I mean, we can pass by each other without punching each other in the face.”
Surrey RCMP Sgt. Tammy Lobb said it appears to have been an unprovoked assault, but that it was an isolated incident.
“We did not have any other incidents of a similar nature that occurred. We understand that these incidents have an impact on feelings of safety and security in our community,” she said.
Police later confirmed a suspect had been arrested.