Waterford, Ireland: A six-year-old girl of Indian origin was brutally assaulted in a suspected racist attack outside her home in Waterford City, Ireland, sparking outrage and fear among the Indian community. The girl, whose family hails from Kottayam, Kerala, was attacked by a group of older children while playing near her residence on Monday evening. The attackers reportedly hurled racial slurs, calling her a "dirty Indian" and telling her to "go back to India."

According to the girl's mother, the assailants — five boys aged between 12 and 14 and a girl around eight — physically assaulted the child by punching her face and neck, twisting her hair, and striking her private parts with a bicycle. The incident left the child traumatised and unable to speak due to fear. “Even in front of our own house, she can’t play safely,” the mother, a nurse who has lived in Ireland for eight years, told local media.

The family, who moved to the Kilbarry area earlier this year, now say they no longer feel safe in their neighbourhood. Despite witnessing the group of children in the area again after the attack, the mother has chosen not to press for punitive action. Gardaí, Ireland’s national police force, confirmed receiving a report and have launched an investigation.

This incident comes amid a worrying rise in violence against Indian nationals in Ireland. In recent weeks, several Indian-origin individuals, including a sous chef, a data scientist, and a taxi driver, have been attacked in separate incidents across Dublin. The Indian Embassy in Dublin has issued a safety advisory urging Indian citizens in Ireland to remain vigilant and avoid isolated or poorly lit areas.