Sydney race riots: Police arrest two for attack

Police arrested two teenagers in early morning raids and charged them with violently assaulting a man during race riots.

Police arrested two teenagers in early morning raids on Tuesday and charged them with violently assaulting a man during the December race riots.

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Police said the two 19-year-old men, whose identities were not released, were involved in retaliatory attacks that broke out after thousands of white Australians went on a rampage on December 11 at Sydney's Cronulla beach attacking several people of Middle Eastern appearance.

The two teens arrested on Tuesday were part of a group of four people of Middle Eastern appearance involved in the attack, New South Wales state police alleged in a statement.

"It will be alleged all four men jumped out of the car and attacked the 20-year-old man, beating him repeatedly and striking him a number of times with a lump of concrete," the statement said.

"The victim suffered serious injuries including a fractured eye socket and nose, and two stab wounds."

The violence followed the beating a week earlier of two volunteer lifeguards by a group of men identified by witnesses as Lebanese.

The Cronulla riot triggered two nights of retaliation by gangs of youths of Middle Eastern appearance who smashed cars and store windows and assaulted several people.

"As a result of the investigation ... further evidence implicating the persons was uncovered resulting in the arrests today," McKay said.

"Investigations into other assaults and incidents of damage to property continues."

Police have come under fire in recent days for not doing enough to arrest suspects in the rioting, particularly those of Middle Eastern appearance.