‘Cowardly’ attacks in central Halifax connected
Posted Sep 7, 2010 02:42:30 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It turns out two attacks in the Gladstone and Davison Street areas Monday night are part of an escalating problem. There have been six similar incidents since Friday, according to police.
A man reported being attacked by a group of about twenty teenagers Monday night. And a few minutes later, a man and woman were accosted a few blocks away. That man was beaten with a baseball bat. Halifax Regional Police say the incidents appear to be related.
On Friday night, a man and a woman were approached in the area of Maitland Street and Divas Lane. Six to eight teenagers approached them asking for a cigarette and when they said they didn’t have one, they were assaulted. They were treated for cuts in hospital. Later that night, a man walking alone was assaulted by between six and eight people.
Saturday night, also in the Maitland Street-Divas Lane area, a similar incident happened. A couple was approached and were asked for a cigarette. The man was punched when he said he didn’t have one. They took off to a nearby residence where they called police.
The fourth incident was on Sunday morning at 12:36 a.m. in the area of Agricola and Charles Streets. Three men walking south on Agricola were approached by a group of teenagers. One suspect asked for a cigarette and knocked the man to the ground when he said no. His friend helped him up and that’s when, according to police, they all started throwing punches. The victims ran off and were later checked out by paramedics but didn’t have to go to the hospital.
Halifax Police Constable Brian Palmeter says they believe the incidents are connected. “There’s no indication why these people are being targeted other than possibly being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“We view these attacks as cowardly. There’s no reason for it. They’re senseless in nature and we’re not going to tolerate it,” adds Palmeter. Extra patrols are going to be assigned to the areas.
As far as protecting yourself, Palmeter says it’s difficult to protect yourself from a random and unprovoked attack. And he says it seems like people in the group are looking for some kind of confrontation.
“Stay in well-lit, well-traveled areas. Avoid any kind of conversation with strangers if possible. And if you see anything suspicious, contact police right away.”
