Syrian refugee, Jamal, 15, thanks everyone for support him outside his school

A Syrian refugee, Jamal, 15, who was ‘waterboarded’ by bullies has turned up at a protest outside his school.

The boy arrived with his father to talk to a small group of concerned people who had gathered outside his school in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.



Jamal, 15, said ‘thanks’ to around 30 protesters showing their solidarity with him and his family. He smiled as he was brought to the demonstration by his father, who also thanked the public.



His father said he did not want to give interviews to waiting media but, as they left, the teenager just said "thanks for everything" before getting into a waiting car.



The footage of the boy being attacked at Almondbury Community School and threatened with drowning has been widely shared on social media and provoked widespread concern.



A 16-year-old boy has been interviewed over the attack on the boy, and reported for summons for an offence of assault ahead of a youth court appearance.



The boy said he pleaded with his father not to send him back to Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield following the attack in October.



The family fled the Syrian city of Homs, which was under siege from May 2011 to 2014, But since arriving in the UK in the hope of a better life, both the boy and his 14-year-old sister have been bullied.