Syrian boy’s family vow to SUE Tommy Robinson over claims bullied refugee was targeted in revenge for ‘attacking a girl’

THE family of the Syrian boy who was ‘waterboarded’ by a classmate has vowed to SUE Tommy Robinson after he claimed the teen “attacked a girl”.

Shameless far-right activist Robinson sparked fury after he claimed bullied schoolboy Jamal was targeted in a revenge attack.

In a video posted online to followers, Robinson accused the refugee of “not being that innocent” and spread claims he allegedly “hit a girl with a hockey stick”.

He fumed: “He violently attacked young English girls in his school. Why is this kid being portrayed as the ultimate victim in the entire country?”

His comments caused outrage online as many accused him of trying to spread hate – and now the Syrian family’s lawyer told The Sun Online that they are considering legal actions over the claims.

The family’s lawyer said: “Jamal confirms that all comments relating to him by Tommy Robinson are untrue. We are considering legal action on the basis of defamation against Mr Robinson.”

“We are currently formulating a response to Tommy,” the lawyer added.

If a defamation claim is successful in court or in a settlement, payouts can vary in depending on how serious the defamatory allegation is and what harm has been caused as a result of the claims.

Earlier this month, Eurovision winner Dana Scallon after false claims relating to her brother were published.

In 2017, Katie Hopkins was ordered to pay food blogger Jack Monroe £24,000 in damages after posting two tweets about her and was ordered to pay £107,000 of Monroe’s legal costs.

Hopkins launched a legal bid to avoid bankruptcy after losing the £130,000 libel case, it was revealed in September 2018.

And in 2016, Speaker John Bercow’s wife Sally was ordered to pay £15,000 in damages at the High Court for suggesting Lord McAlpine was a paedophile on Twitter.

Earlier this year it was revealed Sacha Baron Cohen is being sued for £73million for defamation by US politician Roy Moore who said he was duped into appearing on his show Who is America? and claimed the comic, 46, tried to portray him as a sex offender.

Brits were outraged when footage of Jamal being assaulted emerged on Twitter earlier this week.

The clip, shared tens of thousands of times, shows the 15-year-old victim with his arm in a cast being dragged to the floor by his neck as his attacker says “I’ll drown you” on a school playing field.

The teen then pours a bottle of water in Jamal’s face while others watch and cheer.

After footage was shared online the alleged bully was sent a barrage of death threats and went into hiding.

Cops moved his family out of their home in Huddersfield during the dead of night after a vigilante gang hurled abuse at them.

And despite Robinson’s rant people around the country have rallied in support of Jamal and his relatives.

More than in less than 48 hours.

The refugee family had left their home in the war-torn city of Homs in Syria in 2010 after their relatives were murdered and tortured by regime of Bashir al-Assad.

After fleeing to Lebanon the United Nations offered them safe passage to the UK.

But speaking today the Jamal’s dad said his family no longer feel safe.

He told BBC Five Live: “In the beginning I thought we are coming for sanctuary and safety but when I saw what happened to my children I don’t know what to say.”

Yesterday West Yorkshire Police confirmed a 16-year-old boy is set to be charged with assault over the ‘waterboarding’ incident.

A spokesman said: “A 16-year-old youth has been interviewed and reported for summons, for an offence of assault. He will appear at Youth Court in due course.”

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.