Two arrested over attack on foreign student

Two people have been arrested for what Christchurch police say appears to be a racially motivated attack on a foreign student.

The 25-year-old man and 18-year-old woman are accused of making racist comments to a young Japanese woman as they passed her on the footpath in Lincoln Road around 11.30pm on Easter Sunday.

They are then alleged to have set their two dogs on the 18-year-old, encouraging them to bite her.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Murton says the victim managed by escape serious injury by backing into a wall and was then helped by a passer-by.

The two suspects have been remanded on bail to reappear in the Christchurch District Court next month, and police have seized the two dogs.

- NEWSTALK ZB