Mum's fear after child attacked by group

A mother says she fears for her daughter's safety after she and a friend were attacked by a group of teenagers.

Sophie's daughter and her friend were assaulted outside a youth club in South Gloucestershire at about 18:15 BST on 31 March.

The teenage girls both suffered bruising and a concussion, while Sophie's daughter was also left with a fractured wrist.

Avon and Somerset Police said it was "keeping an open mind" as to whether the attack was linked to an ongoing investigation into a similar incident where a girl was assaulted in Cabot Circus, in Bristol city centre, last month.

Sophie said the two teenagers responsible for the attack on her daughter were "fairly well known" in her local area, but added her daughter does not know them personally and they attend different schools.

She said the pair threw food at her daughter while a group of boys were "egging them on" while filming the incident.

Her daughter and her friend had tried to walk away, Sophie said, but were then subjected to a violent joint attack before youth club staff intervened.

Sophie ran to the scene after her daughter called her, and although the two attackers had left, a group of jeering youths surrounded her.

"They were shouting abuse and taking pictures of the girls on their phones," she told the BBC.

Police officers helped the victims leave the scene. No arrests have been made.

Speaking about her daughter, Sophie said: "She should be preparing for her GCSEs and looking forward to prom, not dealing with this."

A family friend has now started a fundraiser to pay for self-defence classes for Sophie's daughter.

It is the second time in the space of a month a teenage girl has been the subject of a group attack in Bristol, with footage shared online.

A girl was hospitalised and left "too traumatised for school" after an attack in Cabot Circus shopping centre in March.

Neighbourhood Insp Barny Mabbett said police were "aware of concerns in the community" following the attack and had maintained contact with the victims and their families throughout the investigation.

"We are keeping an open mind as to whether this is linked to an ongoing investigation into a similar incident in Bristol city centre last month, and we are therefore reviewing CCTV and other footage, as well as taking various statements, as part of those enquiries," he said.

Mabbett added that police were liaising with partner agencies, including South Gloucestershire Council, which were supporting the investigation.

Anybody who witnessed the attack or has any information is asked to contact Avon and Somerset Police.

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