Police are making enquiries following an incident at Hengrove McDonald's on Friday night. According to an eyewitness, a group of young people threw bricks at the restaurant while diners were inside, smashing two windows.
Avon and Somerset Police has now confirmed that it is investigating an assault and criminal damage at the premises. A spokesperson said: "A number of youths visiting McDonald's in Hengrove were said to be being a nuisance, and they were asked to leave by a member of staff who was reportedly racially abused by the group and assaulted, causing a finger injury.
"We were subsequently called at 7.30pm. A short time after the group left the premises, two of the youths are said to have returned and thrown objects causing windows to break. They then fled the scene on foot before officers attended at approximately 7.45pm. Enquiries, including reviewing CCTV, are ongoing."
Read More: McDonald's diner in Bristol speaks of terror after 'kids launched bricks' through windows
Images have been shared with Bristol Live showing the damaged windows, by a person also present at the time. The witness, who asked not to be named, said it felt like "an awful long time" between police being called and officers arriving.
As previously reported, another man who witnessed the attack said there was some commotion outside the restaurant when he and his family arrived at around 7.15pm on Friday night, as a group of young people were attempting to gain entry and being blocked by staff.
Robert Matthews, from Bristol, said the situation did not initially seem serious and that his party were able to walk through the group to enter through the double doors. However, he says that things quickly escalated. Mr Matthews said:" [A boy] started launching himself at one of the staff, kicking and punching him, pushing them into the window. I'd already ordered the food, so we sat well away towards the front window, and then the commotion just got louder and louder and louder.
"Next, these big red bricks just came launching out the window, smashing them, and everybody [inside] had to move to the back because of shards of glass. It felt like it went on for like 15 minutes. The two big windows were completely destroyed.
"These kids were literally blocking the doorway, we were trapped, and nobody could get in or out; the loose bricks were just flying. The noise was horrendous."
Mr Matthews estimated that some of the group could have been as young as 10-13 years old, and both he and the staff contacted the police. He commended McDonald's staff for taking care of the 20 or so diners inside, including his young daughter, who was "petrified".
He said: "The poor staff, they were there protecting the people, even standing up against the doorway. A few of the staff stayed outside the whole time and were picking up the bricks and hiding them so they couldn't pick them up again. They don't get paid enough to deal with that; nobody does."
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident which took place at our Hengrove restaurant on March 3. Our team acted quickly to alert the police and maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all.
"The safety and security of our people and our customers is of the utmost importance to us, and we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to crime and anti-social behaviour both in and around our restaurants.”
Avon and Somerset Police has asked anyone with information about the disturbance to call 101 and quote reference number 5223051561.
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