International Student Stupefied by Violent Attack

Straining town-gown relations further, police reveal how a Cantab was assaulted on his birthday, for wearing a gown ‘like Harry Potter’.

| UPDATED Cambridge Corn Exchange Harry Potter Hogwarts Lola Lo Pembroke Quinn Coan Townies University of Cambridge

Police are hunting down thugs who brutally attacked a Pembroke student for “looking like Harry Potter.” American exchange student Quinn Coan was minding his own business earlier this Michaelmas, when he was assaulted out of the blue.

Police have released this CCTV image of people they would like to trace in connection with an assault in Cambridge

After celebrating his 21st birthday at Pembroke formal on the evening of November 1, Coan headed into the city centre to continue the festivities. Accompanied by friends, he was approached by a group of eight or nine people on Corn Exchange Street who asked for directions to Lola Los.

Noticing his gown, a familiar look amongst Cantabs and Hogwarts students alike, the group started to taunt Coan.

Describing the horrific attack to The Tab, Coan described how: “They made an off-hand remark about Harry Potter, as I was in my suit and gown, and we just  laughed the comment off and continued on our way.

“They started to become aggressive in their mannerisms, tone and language for no apparent reason, and the next thing I knew, I was blindsided by an individual to my left and fell to the ground.

“The group began to walk away, when one muttered, ‘hang on a minute,’ walked back, and stamped my face into the pavement, breaking my jaw”

Friends quickly came to his aid and, suffering from a fractured jaw and a black eye, Coan was quickly rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Following the assault he was unable to study for two weeks and suffered terrible headaches.

He believes that his attackers were motivated by him wearing his gown as they had not been provoked.

Cambridgeshire police have released CCTV images of people they believe to be connected to the attack, and have appealed to the public for information. If you have any details, please contact Det Sgt Hine on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.