Police chiefs are increasing the number of foot patrols around the Cabot Circus shopping centre to reassure shoppers and diners after a 'feral mob' of up to 100 teenage yobs ran amok through the centre on Saturday. Avon and Somerset police are also appealing for people who see footage on social media of the scenes inside the centre, and on Penn Street outside the main entrance, on Saturday evening to get in touch with them.
Eyewitnesses reported their shock as the large group of young people swarmed around the centre, flocking to incidents of violence that included a teenage girl beating up another, and a group of yobs kicking a man in the head after knocking him to the ground.
Read next: 'Feral, savage' mob of 100 youngsters run amok in spree of violence at Cabot Circus
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said they had reviewed the centre's own CCTV of the incidents, and were taking the matter seriously. And the police said they are mounting increased patrols of the city centre and the area around Cabot Circus to reassure people.
“We are taking this matter seriously and officers from our neighbourhood policing team are working with Cabot Circus and their security team to ensure the safety of all shoppers and business owners," said a police spokesperson. "The neighbourhood team have been conducting reassurance patrols in the area since the incidents.
“If anyone was in the area at the time of the incidents and has any information or relevant footage, please call 101 and quote reference 5223016411 regarding the assault on the 16-year-old girl or reference 5223016456 in relation to the second assault on the man,” she added.
“In one incident a 16-year-old girl was assaulted by another girl outside HSBC, as other teenagers filmed the incident," she added. "The girl was hit on the head and had her hair pulled. Shortly after, a 19-year-old man was assaulted by a different group of teenagers. The victim was pushed to the ground and kicked to the face. He sustained grazing to his elbow and knee. All injuries sustained were minor.
"We are treating these incidents as isolated. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing and officers will be reviewing CCTV and other video footage and carrying out enquiries," she added.
A spokesperson for Cabot Circus played down the scale of the crowd and the incidents, but did confirm security staff were supporting the police in their investigation.
“We can confirm that an incident occurred at Cabot Circus on Saturday evening,” she said. “Police attended and we supported them with their enquiries. The safety and security of our shoppers and colleagues is always our top priority,” she added.
One woman who got caught up in the mob said it was the most terrifying thing she'd ever experienced. “It actually wasn’t the violence itself that was the most shocking thing, it was the mob mentality of this huge group of young people. They were children, I’d say the youngest was 13 and the oldest no more than 17. I’m 48 and I’d never seen violence like that. They were all together, running from one fight to another, it was utterly terrifying. There must have been about 100 of them.
“They all had their phones our and they were all filming. At one point they all ran off up to near the House of Fraser store, whooping and hollering and screaming. I didn't see what happened up there, but then they were walking back, looking at whatever violence it was they’d filmed there, joking and showing each other,” she added.
“They were chasing this young girl through the shopping centre like a pack of animals. I don’t think I can adequately portray the feral, savage nature of what we witnessed. I have never before seen such a frightening exhibition of pure violence. The excitement from the children watching and filming was utterly shocking,” she added.
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