THE attack on a Spanish couple in the city centre earlier this week which left a man with a broken jaw seems to have been racist in intent.

Police believe the couple were targeted by a gang of five thugs simply because they came from another country. How sickening to see such things happening in our beautiful city.

We don’t yet know who was responsible for these attacks: or even whether they come from York. But certainly their attitudes towards visitors are not shared by the vast majority of decent York people.

There has, in the past in York, been an undercurrent of anti-foreign feeling among a small minority.

But the reason an attack like this is so shocking is because such incidents are very rare.

Only last month, York was voted the safest city in the world for a short break. How sad that an incident like this should have tarnished that reputation.

The reactions of genuine shock and horror - and of sympathy and concern for the victims - expressed on social media by York people since the attack reveal just how angry the city is about what happened.

We believe the actions of the taxi driver who came to the couple’s assistance is more representative of the true attitudes of local people.

What is important now is that the police should be able to identify those responsible, and bring them to justice.

Meanwhile, our thoughts go out to the young couple. We are so sorry this should have happened here. Please believe that the behaviour of these thugs is condemned, not condoned, by the rest of the city.