Police UK
Five people have been charged in connection with an attack on a teenage asylum seeker iStock

Five people are due to appear in court after a teenage asylum seeker was attacked in Croydon in a suspected hate crime.

Four of the suspects have been charged with violent disorder and the fifth with grievous bodily harm after the 17-year-old was left with serious injuries following the assault in the Shrublands Avenue area of south London on 31 March.

All five are due to appear at Croydon Magistrates' Court to face the charges.

The Kurdish Iranian remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital following the "brutal attack" involving 20 people. Police believe the teenager was attacked after the group found out he was an asylum seeker. The assault, condemned as a "cowardly and despicable attack" by Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell, left the 17-year-old with a fractured skull and a blood clot on his brain.

Three other people arrested as part of the investigation remain in police custody. A 20-year-old woman was released with no further action on 2 April.

Police previously issued CCTV footage of two men and one woman who they would like to speak to in connection with the attack.

Chief Superintendent Jeff Boothe, Borough Commander for Croydon, said: "We take hate crime extremely seriously as we know how destructive these offences can be, both to individuals and to communities. Arrests have been made and a number of investigative leads are being followed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"Hate crime is often a hidden crime and it is essential we stand together with policing partners, colleagues and groups to investigate all such allegations and support victims."