Attacked just yards from police station
Apr 21 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal
A TEENAGER was in a critical condition in hospital last night after being attacked in a Northumberland market town just yards from a police station.
The incident happened at about 12.45am on Saturday morning in Church Street, Wooler, when the 17-year-old was beaten and kicked on a street close to the town’s police station.
People living in the area yesterday told of being woken in the early hours by shouting and screaming, before the arrival of police and an ambulance shortly afterwards.
One woman, who witnessed the attack, said: “I saw most of what happened and it was savage.
“He was on the ground and they were kicking him – it was horrible to see.”
Other people said that there were blood stains on the pavement the following morning where the incident happened.
Another resident said: “It is unusual for something like this to happen. You sometimes get people leaving the pubs being a bit rowdy, but nothing like this.
“It is just horrible. A really awful thing to happen.
“The shouting and screaming woke me up. I didn’t go outside but you could tell it was serious when the police and ambulance arrived.
“You could see the paramedic treating him on the ground and he was obviously in a bad way.”
Other residents spoke of being woken in the early hours by the commotion, and also expressed their shock at the seriousness of the incident. The incident happened in a small paved area just outside the town’s police station and close to the main street through the town.
The station was not believed to have been staffed at the time of the incident.
The teenager is believed to be from the local area. He was in the high dependency unit at Newcastle General Hospital last night where his condition was described as “critical but stable”. Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the attack to contact them.
A spokesman for the force said: “Anyone with any information is asked to contact Alnwick police station on 0345 604-3043.”
Four men, aged 18, 19, 24 and 25 and a 21-year-old woman were arrested in connection with the incident and were later released on police bail pending further police inquiries.
