A 22-year-old Sikh nurse was left with a broken nose and severe emotional distress after an alleged racially motivated attack outside a gym in Corio, a suburb of Geelong, Australia.
Harmanpreet Singh said the incident occurred late Tuesday night after he completed his workout. According to Singh, verbal harassment began while he was still inside the gym and escalated once he stepped outside, where three men were allegedly waiting for him.
In an interview with Australian broadcaster 9News, Singh described how one of the men suddenly headbutted him. “He got really close to my face and then just pulled back and hit his head on my nose. I started bleeding immediately,” Singh said.
Verbal Abuse Caught on Video
Footage obtained by the channel reportedly shows one of the accused shouting, “Wanna mouth off, you Indian dog?” Singh was also allegedly told to “go back to where you came from” during the confrontation.
The attackers are said to have fled in a sedan shortly after the assault, leaving Singh bleeding heavily. He was rushed to hospital and kept overnight for observation. Doctors have indicated he may need specialist treatment and possibly surgery to address his injuries.
“Nobody wants to hear that — especially when you’re just minding your own business,” Singh told 9News. “Anyone would be hurt. I’m still traumatised.”
Singh said he has previously experienced racial abuse in Australia but described this incident as particularly distressing. The assault has shaken his sense of safety. “I don’t know if I’ll go back to the gym. I won’t feel safe after this,” he said.
Broader Concerns
The attack comes amid growing concern over racist incidents targeting members of Australia’s Indian community, one of the country’s largest migrant groups, with more than 840,000 people recorded as of mid-2023.
In July 2025, a 23-year-old Indian student, Amanpreet Singh, was hospitalised after an alleged racially motivated attack in central Adelaide. Reports said five men armed with metal knuckles or sharp objects assaulted him without warning, leaving him unconscious with serious facial injuries and brain trauma.
There have also been incidents of vandalism targeting places of worship, including the Shree Swaminarayan Hindu temple in Melbourne, heightening anxiety within sections of the Indian diaspora.
Community leaders say such attacks appear to have intensified following anti-immigration protests across parts of Australia last year, raising fresh concerns about the safety and security of migrants in the country.
