In just a few days, two shocking attacks happened against Indian people—one in Australia and the other in Ireland. Both seem to be racially motivated hate crimes. The first happened in Adelaide, South Australia and the second in the Tallaght area of Dublin. These violent incidents have deeply upset immigrant communities, caused anger around the world and led to new demands for stronger action to stop racism and protect people from such attacks.
Adelaide Man Beaten Unconscious in Hate-Fueled Attack
On a seemingly ordinary Saturday night, 28-year-old Indian man Charanpreet Singh was allegedly brutally assaulted and racially abused by a group of unidentified men during a car parking dispute in South Australia's Adelaide last week. He was out with his wife in their car near Kintore Avenue in Adelaide, enjoying the city’s light displays. At around 9:22 pm, a car parking dispute turned into a nightmare.
According to Singh, a group of unknown men approached him without warning and began hurling racial slurs. “They just said ‘f*** off, Indian and started punching,” he recounted to 9News. “I tried to fight back, but they beat me until I was unconscious.”
Mr Singh also said: "Things like this, when they happen, it makes you feel like you should go back. You can change anything in your body, but you can't change the colours."
Graphic videos circulating online show Singh being repeatedly punched, kicked, and attacked with what appear to be metal knuckles or sharp objects. The footage also captures his wife screaming in horror as the group continues the assault. After rendering Singh unconscious, the attackers fled the scene.
Singh suffered serious injuries, including brain trauma and multiple facial fractures, and was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for emergency treatment.
One of the attackers who was a 20-year-old man from Enfield has been arrested and charged with assault causing harm. The South Australian Police are still searching for the other suspects, reviewing CCTV footage and urging the public to assist in the investigation.
South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas condemned the attack, calling it “completely unwelcome” and inconsistent with the values of the broader community. The incident has sparked widespread concern, especially among Adelaide’s Indian diaspora about the safety of international students and immigrants in the region.
Brutal Daylight Attack in Dublin: Stripped, Beaten, and Left Bleeding
Just a week later, a similarly horrifying scene unfolded in Tallaght, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. An Indian man in his 40s who had arrived in the country just three weeks ago, was violently attacked and partially stripped by a group of teenagers in broad daylight around 6 pm on July 19.
According to The Irish Times and eyewitness accounts that the attackers falsely accused the man of inappropriate behavior around children. An accusation confirmed by the Irish police had no supporting evidence. The mob then proceeded to beat him savagely, reportedly using blade-equipped knuckles and left him covered in blood with serious facial, arm, and leg injuries.
One eyewitness said that she saw at least 13 attackers, including a woman, surrounding the man. “His head was gashed… his trousers were pulled down. They left him to die,” she told reporters emotionally. She provided first aid, gave the victim a blanket, and called emergency services. The man was transported to Tallaght University Hospital, where he remains in recovery.
Adding to the horror, the attackers allegedly stole the man’s phone, bank cards, shoes and trousers. So far, no arrests have been made, though Gardaí (Irish police) confirmed that a criminal investigation is underway.
Both incidents have drawn swift and sharp condemnation from diplomats, lawmakers and community leaders.
India’s Ambassador to Ireland, Akhilesh Mishra, took to social media to express his shock, questioning how such a horrific level of violence could be described merely as an “alleged assault.” He thanked local authorities for their assistance but urged them to bring the culprits to justice swiftly.
Local Irish councillor Baby Pereppadan, who visited the victim in hospital, said the man was too traumatised to speak. “He only arrived in Ireland three weeks ago. This is happening too often in Tallaght,” he warned, pointing to the increasing vulnerability of Indian immigrants.
Irish politician Paul Murphy, from People Before Profit, condemned the attack as a byproduct of xenophobic misinformation. “Responsibility lies not just with those who carried out the violence but also with those spreading racist lies in the community,” he said.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan added that data shows immigrants are statistically less likely to commit crimes, pushing back on harmful racial stereotypes.
These back-to-back assaults highlight a disturbing rise in racially motivated violence against Indian nationals abroad — not just students, but also professionals, workers, and newcomers seeking opportunity in foreign lands.
For Charanpreet Singh in Adelaide, the trauma was deeper than just physical. “Things like this make you feel like you should just go back. You can change anything in your body, but you can’t change your skin colour,” he said.
As online support continues to pour in and community leaders demand justice, the pressure is now on both Australia and Ireland to not just catch the perpetrators, but also to confront deeper issues of racism and immigrant safety within their society.
