Four teens arrested after racially abusing boy in Carlisle

Police have arrested four schoolboys from Cumbria after a black pupil was racially abused.

Cumbria Police said the four boys are all in their early teens, and from Carlisle. In a statement, they called the abuse “abhorrent”, and said they are treating it as a hate crime.

A video circulated online shows the boy being pushed and laughed at by a white schoolboy, before being forced to kiss his shoe. The police force has asked the public to stop sharing the video online.

Cumbria Police said it had arrested one teen early on Saturday morning before then arresting a further three later in the day.

One was arrested on suspicion of racially-aggravated actual bodily harm, while the other three were arrested on suspicion of abetting racially-aggravated actual bodily harm.

The incident took place in the Upperby area of Carlisle.

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Carlisle Police superintendent Sarah Jones said: “These are abhorrent images circulating online that have caused shock and concern in both the community and among officers here at Cumbria Police.”

She said she understood such an incident could be “concerning” for many people, but added: “We can reassure the community this is an incident we are taking very seriously.”

The police force said it is increasing its patrols in Carlisle, while its officers are continuing to investigate the incident. Officers are also working with community stakeholders in their investigation.

But the force also called on the public to stop sharing the video online.

“As arrests have been made, we would continue to urge people not to share the video further so as not to impede any potential legal proceedings or to identify any of the children involved,” Superintendent Jones said.

John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that racial hatred and abuse has “no place in Carlisle”.

“Carlisle Police have taken action and I am in full support of this,” he added. “I intend to follow this up with them.”

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the police force at 101.