Bournemouth stabbing: Girl, 17, arrested after ‘machete’ fight outside college which injured 5 including 3 students
A 17-YEAR-OLD girl has been arrested after a "machete" fight outside college which injured five people.
The brawl involving at least six people broke out on Meyrick Road yesterday afternoon, near to the Bournemouth and Poole College, in Bournemouth.
Cops attended the scene and two men, aged 24 and 25, were arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent.
The pair were both taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries, confirmed Dorset Police.
Meanwhile, a 17-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of assault and wounding with intent.
Two male teenagers and a man aged in his 20s sustained minor injuries during the chaos and were rushed to hospital.
The force said that a knife and a glass bottle were used in the melee which is thought to have involved two groups of young people "known to each other".
Bournemouth and Poole College today confirmed that three of the people injured in a mass brawl outside the campus were college students.
It is thought that the other two people who were injured had no association with the college.
Cops were later seen at the nearby three-star Roundhouse Hotel which is understood to be closed "until further notice".
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The chaos unfolded shortly after students were asked to fill in a survey about how safe they felt at the college.
One student, who asked not to be named, said: "There was a fight a few weeks ago and they said 'this is not over' and it all kicked off again.
"Two of them pulled out machetes and we think two people were stabbed."
Another woman who witnessed part of the incident said: "I suddenly saw this mass brawl.
"I saw one of them lifting another boy's shirt up to check if he had been hurt."
College principal Phil Sayles praised college staff for bravely trying to intervene and stop the brawl that happened on the road outside the main entrance.
Despite weapons being used, security staff from the college rushed over to bravely intervene and break it up.
They also helped the injured people until the emergency responders arrived.
College staff have since been placed outside the entrance today to support the students coming to and from the site.
Mr Sayles said: "I am deeply concerned about the incident, which took place yesterday near our Bournemouth campus, and that three of our students were injured in it.
"My heart goes out to the students and their families, who we were immediately in contact with after the incident, and all those affected by the incident."
Two roads in the Lansdowne area of Bournemouth town centre were cordoned off as police forensic officers searched in bushes and bins for a possible weapon.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Bell, of BCP CID, said: “From our early enquiries, we believe this incident involved two groups of young people who were known to each other and there was no wider threat to others in the area.
“Officers arrived on the scene and the situation was quickly contained, allowing treatment to be given to those who had sustained injuries and fast-time enquiries to be conducted.
“It is reported that a knife and a glass bottle were used in the incident and thankfully, there were no serious injuries.
“We understand that this was a busy time of day near to the college and there would have been a number of students and members of the public who witnessed what happened.
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“I would ask anyone with information or footage in relation to this incident to please contact Dorset Police.
“A policing presence will remain in the vicinity as further enquiries are taking place. Our neighbourhood policing teams will be carrying out high-visibility reassurance patrols in the area and can be approached by anyone with information or concerns.”