Cycle path attacks warning

bristol | drugs and crime | news report Tuesday June 03, 2008 12:59 by Cyclist

Just want to warn everyone and get the word out to the local community: My sister and her boyfriend were attacked by a gang of 6-8 youths with baseball bats at 9.30-10.00pm last night on the cycle path between the Easton Community Centre and Devon Road.

He was beaten quite badly, they hit him on the back of the head causing a serious head injury, and he lost a lot of blood, split gums and large welts over his back arms and legs, they beat her too, but nothing broken or bleeding. They stole their bikes, but this didn't seem to be the point of the attack as the gang seemed more intent on beating them up than stealing anything - they both arrived at my house with their phones, cash, handbag, etc.

We spent the night at BRI A&E with the police who informed us that there are currently two gangs of youth attacking people (mainly other kids) in the area (mainly around the cycle path, hiding in the bushes in dark places and jumping out on people) and that things seem to be escalating as this is the first time they have attacked grown ups. The policeman said that one gang is made up of Jamaican youths 14-16 years old, wearing hoodies and bandanas over their faces. The other gang is about the same age but made up mainly of Somali youths.

Please can you warn your neighbours and friends to be careful, this could quite easily have ended up in real tragedy. Apparently there is a lad still in intensive care at the BRI at the moment who was beaten up by a gang with baseball bats last weekend. The police also informed us that they had several calls about this gang last night and that they had the helicopter out looking for them."