A boy with Down syndrome was attacked and bullied by high school students inside a restroom as bystanders laughed.

Video of the incident at York Community High School in the Elmhurst suburb of Chicago shows a group of students pushing the boy to the ground as others cheered.

The victimized boy is seen trying to escape the bullies as they shout, ‘Get him!’ Bystanders watched as the abuse took place.

School officials said the video that began circulation on social media on Thursday showed ‘an aggressive physical altercation by a student toward another student with a disability’, according to the Chicago Tribune. Parents were informed via email on Sunday.

Video showed students at an Illinois high school pushing a boy with Down syndrome to the ground (Pictures: WGN-TV)

‘We are deeply disappointed and saddened by the actions of this small group of students,’ stated superintendent Keisha Campbell on Monday.

‘Bullying, intimidation and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Such behaviors are not tolerated, and any student who chooses to engage in these behaviors will face the appropriate consequences.’

Principal Shahe Bagdasarian said district officials ‘immediately’ began investigating the incident after hearing about it.

‘Parents were contacted and students were interviewed,’ Bagdasarian told the newspaper. ‘Upon completion of the investigation by the school, appropriate consequences will be issued to those involved.’

A group of students bullied the boy with Down syndrome inside a restroom (Picture: WGN-TV)

However, Cris O’Connell, whose son goes to the York High School Transition Center students with intellectual disabilities, learned about the incident on Facebook instead of an email.

‘I have a lot of questions. Why didn’t I get the email?’ O’Connell told the newspaper. ‘Why isn’t this being explained further to people, what the consequences are?’

The victim’s identity and his age have not been disclosed.

The attack happened inside a bathroom at York Community High School in the Elmhurst suburb of Chicago (Picture: WGN-TV)

Thousands of people have signed a Change.org petition demanding education against bullying.

Students are reportedly planning a walkout protest on Friday.

‘A lot of parents are very angry cause the school tried to minimize the incident,’ a junior at the school, Emma Gurecki told WGN-TV. ‘This is a big deal, it should be known.’

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Video of the incident shows a group of students pushing the boy with Down syndrome to the ground.