Mr Karim recently married and was planning to return to Iraq Murder puts city in race spotlight

Kalan Kawa Karim, 29, died in hospital on Monday after he was attacked in Swansea city centre as he walked home.

His friend, Sarkat Junad, said Mr Karim, who had been left disabled by torture under Saddam Hussein's regime, had been planning to return to Iraq.

A vigil in the city is planned for this weekend in protest at the murder.

South Wales Police have said they are treating Mr Karim's killing as a racist incident.

We can't believe that he escaped from Iraq and everything and now he has got murdered in Swansea Sarkat Junad

Members of the Iraqi community, including Mr Karim's uncle Tahseen Shaho, have said they faced racist abuse and worse in the city.

Mr Shaho, who came to the UK two years ago like his nephew to escape persecution, says he faces a different kind of terror here.

He was attacked by three white men outside his home whom he says threatened to kill his children unless he returned to where he came from.

They also demanded money, which he gave them, because he feared for his family's safety if he did not. Officers are still examining CCTV footage taken in the busy Kingsway area of Swansea at the time of the assault, outside The Potter's Wheel pub, at around 0130 BST on Monday.

The assault happened outside the Potter's Wheel pub, Kingsway

Witnesses have described the attacker as white about 5'7 in height, of stocky build and as in his early twenties.

He had short, light-coloured hair. He was wearing light coloured t-shirt and blue jeans.

The second and the third man are both of similar ages as the first man and with short dark hair.

Mr Karim, who had lost a leg below the knee before he was able to leave Iraq, had just bought a takeaway and was walking home with a friend when the pair were attacked by three men.

He was punched once in the back of the head. He was taken to the city's Morriston where he later died.

Mr Junad, who is from the same city in Iraq, was at his bedside.

Sarkat Junad was at his friend's bedside when he died

He said: "He was a very peaceful person, and he was a very nice and respectful person.

"He had a terrible time in Iraq. He was in prison for a while and he lost his leg in prison. He has been tortured under Saddam's government.

"He thought that he had escaped and he had come to a peaceful country.

"He just wanted to settle down for a while and go back to his family in Iraq.

"We thought that we lived in a peaceful and democratic country. We just came here to reorganise.

"He was ready to go back home as soon as possible. He said to me a couple of times that he wanted to go back and be with his family.

Vigil on Saturday

Mr Karim, who had recently married, is thought to have settled in the Mount Pleasant area of Swansea.

Mr Junad said: "It is a tragedy for all the Iraqi community in Swansea.

"We can't believe that he escaped from Iraq and everything and now he has got murdered in Swansea."

The murder has been felt beyond the Iraqi community - a vigil is now being planned for Saturday to bring together all those who condemn violence and racism.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room at Cockett Police Station on 01792 456 999 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.