Former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has defended a Surrey school after a black pupil was attacked in an alleged racially aggravated attack.
Disturbing footage, which was widely shared, showed the girl being punched, kicked and her hair pulled outside Thomas Knyvett College in Ashford.
MPs called for an investigation into the school and protests took place at the site.
in one tweetMr Kwarteng, the local MP, said the school and staff “are very concerned about the welfare of the students”.
He wrote: “Police continue to investigate the appalling racially aggravated attack near Thomas Knyvett College. TKC takes this extremely seriously and is working with the police and other authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
“I know the school and the staff care a lot about the welfare of the students.”
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education said: “All violence, particularly against young people, is abhorrent. As this is an ongoing police investigation it would be inappropriate for us to comment but we are in contact with the school and trust this is a very serious issue.”
Monday afternoon’s attack spilled into the street, where the victim was attacked by a group of children while bystanders looked on.
Ch Insp Dallas McDermott of Surrey Police said the community was “understandably shocked and outraged by the violence” in footage of Monday’s attack, adding that police found it just as worrying as the public.
A 39-year-old woman, a 16-year-old girl and two 11-year-old girls were arrested on suspicion of attempted racially motivated grievous bodily harm.
A 43-year-old man and the 39-year-old woman were also arrested on suspicion of child neglect and willful encouragement and aiding and abetting in the commission of a single offence.
They were released on bail until March.
A sixth suspect, a 15-year-old girl, is called to surrender.
Among the high-profile names to shine the spotlight on the school was British rapper Dave, who tweeted his 866,000 followers that action should be taken against any staff who failed to protect the girl.
Lewisham East Labor MP Janet Daby is one of several MPs who have signed a letter to the Home Secretary condemning the attack and describing Surrey Police as a “fight” between girls.
She said she lost sleep after watching the footage.
Surrey Police said they were aware of the letter and in a statement, Headmaster Richard Beeson said “all necessary steps” were being taken.
The BBC has reached out to the school for further comment.
Mr Kwarteng, the Spelthorne MP, was dramatically sacked as chancellor by former Prime Minister Liz Truss in October, two weeks after her tax-cutting mini-budget caused turmoil in financial markets.
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