Trio arrested after attack on international student

The alleged attack on Saturday afternoon left Sandy Zhang, 20, with a bleeding nose, bloodshot eyes and a sore scalp from having all her hair extensions pulled out. Photo / Supplied

Three girls aged between 12 and 14 were arrested after a seemingly unprovoked attack on a Chinese international student in Auckland's CBD.

The alleged attack on Saturday afternoon left Sandy Zhang, 20, with a bleeding nose, bloodshot eyes and a sore scalp from having all her hair extensions pulled out.

Miss Zhang was walking down Queen Street near the IMAX complex at around 1pm when she saw three girls walking towards her.

She said as they walked past someone pushed her.

"I asked them what happened...they began to push and punch me and pull my hair," she said.

"I was confused I don't know what happened."

Miss Zhang said bystanders intervened chasing the trio off, but they came back not long after and continued to chase her.

She sought refuge in a nearby store, while someone called the police.

Police arrived not long after, and took her report. Ambulance officers also checked her out, but her injuries were not deemed serious enough for a hospital admission.

Miss Zhang, who was shaken by the incident, was still nursing a bit of a sore head and nose three days on.

"I have to study in the city, I'm afraid of walking on Queen Street."

Police spokeswoman Tracie Simpson confirmed police had attended the alleged assault shortly after 1pm on Saturday.

"After speaking to witnesses police arrested three young women nearby who were aged between 12 and 14 years.

"The three were interviewed by police and have now been referred to Youth Aid."

The story has been circulated among members of the Chinese community via News.SkyKiwi.com.

A number have written in to the Herald to report what happened and express their distress.