A headteacher has described how a small number of terrified kids witnessed a ‘gang attack’ on their way to school.
Police and paramedics were called to Wordsworth Road in Accrington at around 8.30am yesterday (Wednesday November 6) to reports of an assault.
A man in his 50s had been subjected to a brutal gang attack after his black Volkswagen was pinned in by a BMW X5 and a Land Rover with the incident caught on camera. The gang of six, who wore balaclavas to hide their identities, used baseball bats and hammers to smash the windows of the man’s car before assaulting him.
The terrifying incident took place close to Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School. Headteacher Xavier Bowers told LancsLive that several pupils witnessed the attack.
Mr Bowers said: “This incident happened at 8.30am when both children and staff were on their way into school.
“It is an incident that the police attended very quickly, as did the ambulance, and I think it’s fair to say this was a targeted attack on a male and has nothing to do with school. It was shocking.
“A small number of our children did witness it. People were shook up in school and in the local community. The children were given the necessary support yesterday and parents were contacted.”
Police have confirmed that they believe the attack was targeted. A graphic video of the incident has been posted on social media with officers urging members of the public people not to re-share the footage because of the brutal nature of the attack.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Denson of Lancashire Police said: “This was a violent assault with weapons of a man who suffered serious injuries.
“As we investigate what happened, we are appealing for witnesses to the assault and any information. If anyone has CCTV or dashcam footage from the area around the time it happened, we want you to contact the police.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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