The leader of the Somali community in Swindon has spoken out after a man he knows was beaten senseless and left seriously injured by muggers in the town centre.

A MAN left unconscious in intensive care after a beating in a Swindon underpass is the 18th Somali victim of racist violence in six months, a community leader has claimed.

Osman Kanyare chairs the Wiltshire and Swindon Somali Community group, which looks after the interests of the town's 350 Somalis.

He has spoken out after the attack on a man he has named as Abdi Muse, 36, who lived at the Davis House Salvation Army hostel.

The police have launched a major inquiry following the assault and robbery in the early hours of yesterday morning in the underpass near Debenhams in the town centre. They are treating it as racially motivated, although they have stressed the motive is still not yet clear.

The incident happened between 1.30am and 2.30am yesterday.

The victim was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital after an off duty American airman witnessed the assault by two white men. He ran for help as the attackers fled.

Mr Kanyare said: "This makes it the 18th Somali man attacked in the last six months with a racial motivation. It seems as though these Somalis are being targeted by racist people. I was taken to identify him because I am the leader of all 350 Somalis living in Swindon and Wiltshire."

After visiting Mr Muse in hospital, where his condition is now described as stable, Mr Kanyare said: "I would never wish to see anybody in that state you can hardly recognise him.

"He must have suffered some heavy blows to the head and face, and I have been told he suffered some sort of brain damage. A scan was taken yesterday morning that showed a haemorrhage."

Mr Kanyare said Mr Muse had lived in Britain for a decade, spending much of his time in Liverpool before moving to Swindon a year ago. He had been living in Davis House for the last month.

Police say the American saw two men with the victim, one kicking him in the head and the other going through his pockets as he lay face down.

The pair fled when they were disturbed and ran off in the direction of Newbridge Square.

The US airman ran for help and later saw the two men back on The Parade side of the underpass, running towards the town centre.

Detective Inspector James Vaughan said: "We've been speaking with the Somali community today. There have been a small number of other attacks on Somali men which have been reported to the police.

"The Somali community are telling us that there have been up to 18 occasions many of which haven't been reported to the police. It was a shock to us to hear that there were more attacks on young Somali men that we weren't being made aware of.

"We are working with the Somali community to try and reassure them that Swindon Police are doing everything they can to protect them."