8/2/2008

Local News

'Riot' under Canopy

Scene of the incident: Albion Square

A TEENAGER was beaten unconscious in what bystanders described as a riot in Woking town centre early on Friday morning.

Hours later bloody stains marked the spot where the 17-year-old was attacked in Albion Square at about 2am.

One eyewitness reported seeing two gangs of around 25 youths in total brawling before the emergency services turned up.

He said: "It was a really heavy brawl. There was one big guy who got hit with some sort of tool in the head. He was unconscious for a long period of time.

"He was very bad. He had blood coming from his head. It was very violent. At first a couple of people started and then everyone was fighting."

The eyewitness - a taxidriver who asked not to be named - said he was amazed that it took police at least 10 minutes to arrive at the scene.

He said two other passers-by called the police and the fight continued until they arrived. The men continued taunting and shouting obscenities after officers arrived. 

Albion Square is covered by CCTV cameras and becomes busy in the early hours with people spilling from Woking's nightclubs.

One reveller in Chameleon nightclub in Chertsey Road reported tensions earlier that evening.

A spokesman for Surrey Ambulance Service said paramedics were called to the scene at 2.20am after reports from the public of a "riot in progress".

The casualty, who is from Woking, was said to have been fading in and out of consciousness and bleeding from the head.

He was taken to St Peter's Hospital, where he received stitches before being released several hours later.

Surrey Police said on Friday afternoon that two 19-year-olds from Chertsey and Hanworth were in custody but no one had been charged.

Police are appealing to anyone who saw what happened to contact them. Call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

First printed in: Woking News and Mail