Three Chinese international students were allegedly choked, scratched, and subjected to racist abuse near Sydney's Central Station after two women followed them through the CBD, an incident that's left one victim unable to leave his home five days later.
Lenny Tai, 29, and his friends Minghao Zhan, 20, and another student who asked not to be named were waiting for a DiDi ride home in the early hours of last Saturday when the confrontation began. The women started taunting them from across the road. When the students tried to walk away, the pair followed them.
The Attack
After several minutes, the women crossed Pitt Street at its intersection with Hay Street in Haymarket and approached the group. They swore and jeered at the students, allegedly directing racist and sexually explicit abuse at them. Video footage captured by Minghao shows one woman saying: "You wanna f---ing say that c---? In Australia? … You will never be let back in our country," before physically assaulting the men.
Tai said he was grabbed by the neck, choked and scratched on the face. NSW Police confirmed they're investigating the incident and that "the man was allegedly assaulted by two women who were unknown to him." A police spokesperson acknowledged Tai "sustained a scratch to his chin during the alleged assault."
A Community Living in Fear
Tai, who's lived in Sydney for five years, hasn't left his home since the attack. "I have nightmares every night, even last night … We couldn't sleep well, I can't eat, it's painful for me to recall that night," he told the Herald. "I live very close to where it happened. I don't feel safe."
Zhan said the incident exposed broader public safety concerns for international students. "I feel really scared," he said. "I think it's not just Chinese students … These people hate Asians."
His fears aren't unfounded. A 2026 study by the Australian Human Rights Commission found international students attending Australian universities experienced high levels of racism in public places. The research also documented that vilification of Chinese international students worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Investigation Continues
Tai and Zhan reported the incident to police the same day it occurred. NSW Police are now seeking witnesses and have urged anyone with information to contact Sydney City Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The attack happened in Haymarket, a neighborhood with significant Asian Australian and international student populations, where students should be able to wait for transport home without fear of racist violence.
Why This Matters:
International students contribute billions to Australia's economy and enrich its universities, yet this attack reveals how inadequately they're protected from racist violence in public spaces. When students can't safely wait for a ride home without being followed, assaulted, and told they'll "never be let back in our country," it exposes a failure of both public safety infrastructure and social cohesion. The Australian Human Rights Commission's findings show this isn't an isolated incident but part of a documented pattern of racism that worsened during the pandemic and hasn't been adequately addressed. Students like Tai and Zhan came to Australia seeking education and opportunity. They shouldn't have to live with nightmares, fear leaving their homes, or question whether they're safe in the communities where they study. The incident demands a stronger response from authorities and renewed commitment to protecting vulnerable communities from hate-fueled violence.