A foreign man in Whetstone has become the second victim in as many months of what Barnet police have branded a racially motivated attack.

The victim, a 29-year-old student from Iran, was left with a serious cut to his arm after he was attacked by a man wielding a knife with a blade up to 15cm long.

The man, whose wound needed stitches, was left traumatised by the attack, which happened last Thursday at about 10.50pm, as the student was making his way home along Avondale Avenue, near the junction of Derwent Avenue. The attacker grabbed the victim by the throat and shouted: "Why don't you go home to your own country."

As he tried to run away, the suspect grabbed the man by the arm and slashed him with the knife.

The victim was then released and able to run home, from where he called the police.

On October 17, Mohammed Jechi, 20, a Lebanese student, was attacked in Edgware Road, Colindale, in a similarly unprovoked racist attack. Three people have been bailed pending further enquiries. The two assaults are not being linked by police.

PC Naomi Thomas, who is investigating the latest assault, said: "This was a completely unprovoked attack on a visitor to this country, which we are taking very seriously. Although the victim didn't think there was anyone else about when it happened, somebody may know something about it and will be able to help us catch the person responsible. Perhaps the attacker has told other people what he has done."

The suspect is described as white, aged about 18 and 6ft tall. If you can help, call PC Thomas on 020 8733 4465 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.