Foreign students attacked in town
10:20am Thursday 3rd April 2008
Comments (21)VISITING German students are too frightened to go out in Weymouth because of the campaign of violence being waged against them, language school bosses said today.
Five teenagers were left nursing broken teeth and bleeding noses after being subjected to an unprovoked attack in the town centre.
It is the latest in a series of attacks against the students who have also been spat at, racially abused and taunted by local youths giving Nazi salutes and goose-stepping.
Julia Wilhelm, manager of the Europartner language school in Dorchester Road, said the students are now refusing to go out at night because they are too frightened.
Miss Wilhelm said she now wants to work with police and community leaders before more groups arrive.
She said: "I feel so frustrated and angry because I can't protect them."
Police are investigating four separate incidents against German students in the last week - the most serious being when five boys aged 14 and 15 were punched repeatedly in the face.
Some needed emergency dental treatment following the attack, near the King's Statue.
Miss Wilhelm said: "It was the first night they had off on their own and they were looking forward to going outside without the leaders.
"We give the students a security talk when they arrive and the police also have a chat.
"We tell them never to hit back if they are assaulted and instead to run and shout for help.
"The boys were going to run away but one of the girls with them was on crutches and they didn't want to leave her.
"We believe the same people are responsible for taunting the younger students who were being walked home by their leader the night before. It's really upsetting."
She added: "The students are very frightened. They are leaving on Saturday and have told me they don't want to go out in Weymouth any more.
"I have to think about what to do for the future when more students arrive.
"Most of the students we have are from central and southern Germany and have never seen a beach before so they love coming to Weymouth.
"They stay with host families and have a fantastic time, but an assault can overshadow the whole experience."
PC Mike Green is appealing for witnesses to the attacks. The most serious at the King's Statue happened on Tuesday night.
PC Green said: "We will not tolerate this behaviour in Weymouth.
"We ask people to be vigilant and if they have any information to contact the police on 01305 222222."
Your Say YourThisisdorset
Fabian, Weymouth says...
1:06pm Thu 3 Apr 08
Just to clarify: Not all German people supported the Nazi's and large sections of the Nazi SS were actually recruited from across Europe, from many different nationalities.
You cannot attribute blame to just one nation, nor would it be fair to do so.
Also, these poor students were born in the 1990's a good fifty years after Hitler (an Austrian) died.
I wonder if those concerned in assaulting these poor students would feel it justified if they travelled to India or Egypt and were beaten senseless due to British actions in these areas half a century ago?
derek, dorset says...
4:10pm Thu 3 Apr 08
derek, dorset says...
4:10pm Thu 3 Apr 08
derek, dorset says...
4:10pm Thu 3 Apr 08
bluecat, Weymouth says...
4:24pm Thu 3 Apr 08
Local, Weymouth says...
4:53pm Thu 3 Apr 08
Local, Weymouth says...
4:54pm Thu 3 Apr 08
Fabian, Weymouth says...
6:18pm Thu 3 Apr 08
Alice, Weymouth says...
7:12pm Thu 3 Apr 08
K Ridsdale, UK says...
7:30pm Thu 3 Apr 08
JamesY, Dorchester says...
8:16pm Thu 3 Apr 08
K Ridsdale wrote:A very fair comment. The lasting impact of WW2 is the ability of the liberal left to stop all progress in its tracks by making out that the next step is genocide.
Its over 60 years since the sickening WW2 and yet still white people, especially those who are german or just germanic (blonde hair, etc) are subjected to anti-white racism from other white people who remain motivated by the anti-white racist ww2 propoganda generated by the government of the time, and subsequently perpetuated by following governments.
JamesY, Dorchester says...
8:18pm Thu 3 Apr 08
Local wrote:I think the blame lies with the German government of the time. Living in a police state it is easier to toe the party line than protest and risk imprisonment. May not be noble, but its realism.
Fabian. I think the blame for WW11 rests squarely with the German nation. However your comment about how ridiculous it is to use events that took place fifty years ago to justify these cowardly assaults is spot. There is no excuse for this kind of behaviour ever.
Dorset Boy, Wilds of Dorset says...
8:19pm Thu 3 Apr 08
derek wrote:Wot!!!!! and pollute Weymouth Bay. They are scum no other word can describe these hooligans.
Why don't the thugs who do this just crawl back into the sea , it is very easy to find even for these yobs.
lilibolero, dorset says...
1:01am Fri 4 Apr 08
We might get a more balanced scenario if critics would desist from blaming the assaults on the war.
It isn't the last War, it is now!
If Weymouth's night-time economy was not so focussed on bars/clubs/pubs,indu
cing excessive alchohol consumption, never mind the retailers who persistently sell to under-age buyers, possibly the victims would have been in rapid receipt of help and support.
Probably, the assaults would not have taken place if there had been sufficient numbers of regular townsfolk strolling safely and securely about, (possibly with free parking after 7p.m. ? )enjoying a walk on the esplanade, savouring a bag of fish and chips, relishing the enjoyment of their surroundings !
No-one was there to fend off the bullies !
Sadly, like me , they are too wary of the drunken, unruly, anti-social patrons of said bars/pubs/clubs to take the risk of going to town at night for anything other than an urgent journey .
Weymouth and Portland could make it's target Olympic Legacy to declare the area safe for all at all times.
Scolopax, Wyke Regis says...
7:00am Fri 4 Apr 08
AL, Portland says...
11:58am Fri 4 Apr 08
Scolopax, Wyke Regis says...
2:51pm Fri 4 Apr 08
flaneur, says...
9:18pm Fri 4 Apr 08
Unfortunately hostility, all be it mostly in the form of crass insults and asides, towards those who seem different, unconventional or unfamiliar is a commonplace in the town and widespread amongst its population.
Weymouth can at least console itself that it is no different from any other parochial backwater.
DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire says...
9:55pm Fri 4 Apr 08
PC Mike Green is appealing for witnesses to the attacks. The most serious at the King's Statue happened on Tuesday night.Evenin' all.. And not a bobby on the beat in town on a Tuesday evening?
PC Green said: "We will not tolerate this behaviour in Weymouth.
Can we learn from a bit of our not-too- distant history?
alass alack, Wyke Regis says...
3:27pm Sat 5 Apr 08
If our guests wished to meet with their friends from home, they would meet at a host's home and join in any activities arranged. Going out at night on their own was not permitted by the organisers. This way they learned our language and our way of life.
There was never any trouble with attacks. This was 45 to 50 years ago.
How times have changed.
ANGERED BY ATTACKS: Julia Wilhelm
In this section
- Residents flee block after blaze in top floor flat
- Plea to stop teens’ lethal sea-jumping
- Traders face huge repair bill after Wimborne fire
- Estate agent who hit girl ‘was idiot’
- Floating a new solution to carnival travel ban
- Company boss loses appeal over conviction
- Bournemouth teenager saves pet from savage attack
- Diver safe after three-hour rescue operation
Sponsored Links
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
spoon, Poole says...
12:43pm Thu 3 Apr 08
Come to Weymouth, an 'Olympic' venue...
Shameful!
Mind you even if caught the CPS are so pathetic in their judgements, they do not justify tax payers expense.