More messages of condolence have been sent following the death of foreign language student Mohammed Al-Majed.
Nick Perry, Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner for Hastings & Rye said: "I want to add my voice to those of other local people who have expressed their heartfelt sadness and condolences to the family of Mohammed al-Majed.
"It is right and proper tha
t after an incident such as this that we review the policy and service safeguards which are in place to prosper good community relations, anti-racism and the local economy, and work out in a joined-up way, the lessons that need to be learned.
"But we must not jump in with both feet, and we must allow sufficient time to get our facts straight, so that we can make informed judgements and the changes that are necessary.
"I support Cllr Pragnell when he says that it only takes a few individuals to tar a town's reputation. And we must do all that we can to preserve the good name of Hastings.
"The police must be allowed to get on with their job, and the politicians must, for the moment, take a back seat."
Kevin Boorman, chairman of the Hastings Overseas Student Advisory Council, said: "As chair of the Hastings Overseas Student Advisory Council 'HOSAC) I would like to add my condolences to those already given, the thoughts of HOSAC are with Mohammed's family.
"HOSAC meets regularly throughout the year, and fortnightly through the summer, bringing together the Police, student leaders, and other organisations to ensue that the language students have an enjoyable, and safe, stay here. We give 'commonsense' advice to the students, and pass on any information which might help them.
"In fact attacks on language students have declined very significantly over the past few years, which makes the events of the weekend all the more sad.
"We have invited the language schools in the town to attend the meeting taking place here in the Town Hall on Thursday, which will be attended by Michael Foster MP, senior councillors, local minority ethnic community leaders, and Sussex Police.
"We attract over 30 000 language students a year to Hastings, and they bring in over £30m a year to the local economy, so they are very important to the town's economy. They also bring a real cosmopolitan flavour to Hastings and, of course, add an extra dimension to the host families they stay with.
"I obviously hope that this is a one-off incident, and that language students will continue to feel safe, and welcome, here."
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