A Bristol dad says a group of young people hurled bricks at a Bristol McDonald's, leaving his family feeling "petrified" and "trapped" inside the restaurant. Robert Matthews claims that two windows were broken at the Hengrove branch, but that the perpetrators dispersed before the police arrived.
Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed that enquiries are ongoing following an assault and criminal damage at the premises on Friday March 3.
Mr Matthews 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 get gain entry and being blocked by staff. He estimated the youngsters to be aged between just 10 and 13 years old.
He 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.
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"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 estimates there were around 10 young people involved in the attack and that both he and the staff contacted the police, but that by the time officers arrived, those involved ran away. 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."
According to Avon and Somerset Police, the disturbance began after a number of youths visiting the McDonald's were asked to leave by a member of staff for causing a nuisance. The group reportedly racially abused the staff member and assaulted them, causing a finger injury.
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.”
A spokesperson from Avon and Somerset Police said: "Enquiries are ongoing following an assault and criminal damage at a business in Bristol on Friday March 3.
"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 7.30 pm.
"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 7.45 pm.
"Enquiries, including reviewing CCTV, are ongoing. We'd ask anyone who can assist our enquiries to please call 101 and quote reference number 5223051561."
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