Asian-Australian cosplayer traumatised after racially motivated attack by teenage girls in Sydney CBD

An Asian-Australian woman has had to seek medical help after being harassed by a group of teenage girls twice in a day in Sydney‘s city centre.

Enana, a cosplayer who had just turned 18, was first targeted while dressed as a fictional character about 7.20pm on August 25 at the Chinatown light rail station while with her friend Andy, 17.

Four teenage girls allegedly shoved their phones in her face while hitting her head and yanking at her wig, Enana told 7NEWS.com.au.

Dressed as anime character Ichigo Hoshimiya, from the series Aikatsu!, she said her fake bunny ears were torn from her head during the scuffle and haven’t been found since.

Her assailants allegedly shouted slurs like “ching chong”, “get out of Australia” and “F*** off”, despite Enana being an Australian citizen and Andy a permanent resident.

“One of the girls wanted to throw her phone on my face, and even slap me, but I dodged,” Enana recalled.

Video filmed by a nearby shop worker shows three girls confronting Enana, with one reaching towards her face.

“The fourth girl had left at the time,” Enana said.

“I was trying to reason with them, but they kept saying they were only 14.”

Shaken, she and Andy screamed for help, but no one intervened. The teens then jumped on the light rail and fled.

By then Enana was in tears. Passersby came and offered to be witnesses, but she said police didn’t arrive for an hour, so the pair went to the station themselves.

“When we finally met the police, they said because the girls were underage there wouldn’t be many consequences — and asked if I still wanted to go ahead,” Enana said.

She went ahead anyway, giving her account to police.

Harassed for a second time

Moments later, as Enana and Andy left the police station, they unexpectedly ran into the same group again.

“It was like we were stalked,” Enana said.

“They used two water guns to spray me — my whole body was soaked.”

Overwhelmed, she broke down and chased after them, demanding they delete their videos and apologise.

“When we ran through a crossing, one of them hurled a bag at me to try and trip me,” she said.

“Then they started calling for help from strangers.”

Enana and Andy managed to catch up to two girls, but when they tried to hold them until police arrived, Andy was allegedly bitten, hit and kicked in the knees.

Making matters worse, a bystander assumed Enana and Andy were the aggressors and stepped in to help the younger girls.

“I kept screaming. I was terrified, but no one helped me,” Enana said.

“During the scuffle someone pushed me face-first to the ground, and I fainted.”

When she regained consciousness, the teens were gone, and passersby called the police.

In the aftermath, Enana was prescribed Mirtazapine — a medication for depression and anxiety.

“I’m still fearful of going out in public,” she said.

“I just hope they apologise, delete the videos, and promise they won’t harass anyone else.”

More victims emerge

Others have since claimed online they too have encountered the anti-social group of girls.

One Reddit user wrote: “Called the cops on these girls on Thursday night at Circular Quay!”

“They pulled the hair of this innocent Asian girl. I was on the bus and witnessed the whole thing.

“Absolutely horrifying. I am certain it’s the same trio of teen girls!

“Absolutely disgusting behaviour , they’re obviously going around targeting innocent people in the city.”

Another said: “Wait I know them, they tried to spit on me on the light rail once. I didn’t even interact with them.”

“This is in Australia. Police won’t do much and the teen girls won’t be apprehended or charged or jailed and will just get to hang out again to do it again,” a third commented.

NSW Police confirmed they had received a report and an investigation is underway, but no arrests had been made as of Monday.

“Officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command were told two people — an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy — were waiting for public transport when a group of three teenage girls approached the pair and verbally harassed them,” police said in a statement.

“Police were further told the pair left the scene; however, re-encountered the same group of girls on George Street, where the group again verbally harassed the 18-year-old woman before physically assaulting both her and the 17-year-old boy.

“Anyone with information into the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”