German tourists thought they were going to be killed in terrifying St Patrick's Day attack

Two German tourists feared they were going to be killed when they were set upon by a gang of teens in an unprovoked attack.

Christian, 30, and his 24-year-old girlfriend Alina, were visiting Ireland for St Patrick’s Day when a gang of teens aged between 14 and 18 attacked them on a busy Dublin Street.

The couple, who only want to be identified by their first names for fear of further attacks, were in the capital to visit Christian’s brother Christoph who has been living and working here for the past year.

Christoph said: “A few of us had been to see the parade earlier in the day and later that evening at around 8pm we decided to go for a drink.

“We were going past the Grand Social pub on the quays and I was walking ahead with a friend while my brother and Alina were coming behind us.

“Three youths approached them in an aggressive fashion and asked Christian if he had a light.

“When Alina said no a girl in the group hit her in the face.”

Around seven more youths then appeared and started kicking and punching Alina and Christian.

 He said: “I saw what was going on with the three and ran back to try and stop them but then more appeared and started to attack us.

“The other people who were with us were girls and were screaming for help. But in spite of the fact it was really busy no one assisted us.

“Others were just standing around taking photos or filming on their phones.”

Christoph told how they feared for their lives as the gang kept kicking Christian in the head after he passed out.

He added: “My brother was hit and kicked until he was unconscious and even then the attackers carried on.

“One of our friends tried to stop them by pulling them off us but he was overwhelmed by them. They only stopped and ran off as gardai approached.

“This all happened with no reason at all and we are not sure if they were trying to kick my brother until he was dead or what their intention was.

“Alina was punched and kicked to the ground and I managed to protect myself somehow from serious injury but three or four people were hammering at my head.”

Christoph believes they were singled out by the gang. He revealed: “As Christian and Alina were walking behind a little bit, maybe they thought they were on their own.

“At the start three or four people approached them but once the first punch happened more immediately joined in.”

When the attackers fled Christian and Alina were taken to hospital by ambulance.

Christoph said: “Although Christian was beaten unconscious there was no lasting damage and thankfully we all managed to escape without serious injury.

“We are battered and bruised. Christian and Alina both have black eyes and cuts on their faces and Christian has a big wound on the back of his head.

“He is also suffering severe pain in his mouth and jaw but we are lucky that’s all – we could have been killed.

“We think this gang was targeting a couple at random as they didn’t know there were a few of us walking ahead.”

Christoph revealed Alina and Christian are understandably shaken by what has happened.

He added: “They came to see what St Patrick’s Day in Ireland was like and this has ruined their holiday.

“I have lived here for a year but now I will be seriously reconsidering staying after what happened.”

Christoph said they gave statements to gardai who are investigating.

He added: “We are anxious these people are caught so that the same thing doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

Source-Irish Mirror