Athlete's boyfriend held over attack

Ashia Hansen: One of the UK's leading female athletes

Police investigating a "racist attack" on the boyfriend of Olympic athlete Ashia Hansen have arrested the alleged victim and two other men.

Former long jumper Chris Cotter, 28, who was stabbed outside his famous girlfriend's home in Birmingham in March, is believed to be in custody on Friday in connection with the assault.

Chris Cotter was stabbed outside his girlfriend's home

The arrests follow a high profile investigation by West Midlands police into what they labelled a racially motivated attack.

Mr Cotter suffered three puncture wounds in his back, was slashed across the forehead and claimed his attackers shouted racist abuse.

At the time, police said Mr Cotter may have been targeted because he was white and Ms Hansen, the British international triple jumper, was black.

Hate mail

Ms Hansen received racist hate mail after the stabbing and police later revealed that three other high-profile black athletes had also received hate mail.

The couple went into hiding after the incident and Ms Hansen has vowed not to return to Birmingham.

Hansen and Cotter: The couple went into hiding after attack.

Describing the incident at the time Mr Cotter said:

"I became aware of people behind me.

"I felt punches in the back although I didn't know I was being stabbed in the back.

"[A] man who had approached me initially, then slashed me across the face. There was blood pouring from me."

The two other men arrested by police on Friday have not been named.