Student still shaken after weekend attack

Junior Omar Khan, a Pakistani Muslim, had just left Kilroy's Sports Bar on North Walnut to withdraw money from an ATM about four blocks away when two men attacked him early Sunday, police said.\nKhan was walking on the 500 block of North Washington Street at about 1:20 a.m., Bloomington Police Capt. Joe Qualters said.\nKhan said two men walked by and shouted a racial comment and profanities. They told him to go back to his country, Khan said.\nKhan said he shouted a harsh comment back at them.\nUpset by Khan's return comment, the men threw Khan into an isolated alley and attacked him, Khan said.\n"They just started beating me up," Khan said "They punched me in the head and kept stepping on my knuckles."\nKhan said it lasted for about seven to eight minutes during which he pleaded with the two men to stop.\n"I was telling them to let me go, but they just wouldn't," Khan said.\nWhen they left, Khan went back to Kilroy's Sports Bar to meet a friend, senior Matt Bogdan.\nKhan was holding the side of his head and did not seem to be himself, Bogdan said.\n"When I saw him, he was not very responsive, and his face was swollen on the side," Bogdan said.\nKhan and Bogdan reported the attack to BPD at 1:42 a.m. After reporting the incident, Khan and Bogdan went to a nearby Taco Bell to get ice.\nKhan turned down an offer from police to get him medical treatment, he said. While Khan was in the restroom, he experienced more physical problems from the attack.\n"I passed out for five minutes," Khan said. "I must have been in shock."\nKhan said the hardest part about being assaulted is how it affects his everyday life.\n"I don't feel safe walking alone anymore," Khan said. "I read stories that (attacks) were happening, but I never thought in my wildest dreams that it would happen to me."\nPolice said the situation may have been escalated by alcohol. \nWhile other Muslim students have reported physical and verbal abuse while on campus, Qualters said it hasn't been a problem in the city itself.\n"This is one of the first cases I have seen," Qualters said.\nJunior Naimah Bilal, president of the Muslim Student Union, said she was surprised to hear about the attack.\n"It shocked me, because I thought that it was getting safer," Bilal said. "Muslims have every right to be wary."\nAlthough Khan said he remains shaken by the attack, he is not letting that affect his views.\n"I don't hold anything against anyone," Khan said. "(My attackers) are just some ignorant people."\nPolice said there are no leads yet, but ask anyone with information to call BPD at 339-4477.