THE University of Newcastle is reviewing its security arrangements after a fourth international student in a week was robbed at knifepoint by a group of thugs aged as young as 12.
Korean exchange student Dong Joo Cho, 23, says he will not be out after dark after he was punched and threatened with a long-bladed knife on Ring Road, near the university's library, on Thursday night.
"I had only heard about Australia being a very peaceful place," Mr Dong said yesterday.
"I have never had to visit a police station in Korea it was very surprising to me that this could happen, and happen by boys with [a] long knife inside the university."
Mr Dong was approached by one boy asking for a cigarette before four others surrounded him and demanded money.
One of them, estimated to be aged as young as 12, punched Mr Dong in the face with such force his iPod fell from his ears.
He was able to run to safety.
But it emerged yesterday that the attack was one of at least four armed robberies on international students, including two on the Callaghan campus, since May 8.
Some international students spoken to by The Herald yesterday said they believed up to 20 people had been targeted in the past fortnight alone but had been too frightened to report the crimes.
Newcastle City duty officer acting Inspector Kirren Steel said patrols had been increased in and around the university after a core group of juveniles were identified as being responsible for targeting international students.
"We suspect they believe the international students are soft targets, they are not familiar with the streets, with the laws and there is a language barrier there," Inspector Steel said.
She said there had also been issues with how the victims had reported the incidents, both in their immediacy and accuracy.
Acting vice-chancellor Professor Kevin McConkey said there was a range of safety measures for staff and students including a security escort service, where those who felt vulnerable could ask to be accompanied within the campus or to their homes.
Professor McConkey said there were 24-hour security patrols, a special 24-hour hotline for international students, security courses and support services in place.
"I think the people who perpetrate these actions go after those who they see as the weakest or most vulnerable and that is unfortunate," he said.
"It appears some of the alleged perpetrators are a group of youths who have been operating . . . in an area that is shared by university students and staff."
A boy, 12, has been charged with armed robbery in company and stealing after allegedly taking a cash register from a university coffee shop before robbing an overseas student at knife point at Jesmond on Tuesday night.
No one has been charged over Thursday's attack.
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