An investigation has begun into the motivation for what appeared to be a racially-motivated attack upon a Chinese student in his house in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton, New Zealand police said Wednesday.

Local police said that at around 5 AM on Wednesday, three masked men burst into the house on Mandeville St, when the 22-year-old Chinese student answered the door.

Detective Sergeant Scott Anderson revealed that the student was hit with empty beer bottles and that racist taunts were aimed at him.

Nothing was stolen from the house and the victim has no idea why he was targeted. Police are seeking three European individuals with shaven heads, thought to be in the 17-23 age range.

Police are also investigating two burglaries having happened at the same address in the last week.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2007)