A US Marine was taken to hospital with a head injury after allegedly being mugged by a gang of British tourists outside a Darwin city pub.
Three of the man’s fellow soldiers rushed to help when about eight men, aged in their 20s, “snuck up” on the victim from behind near the Victoria Hotel, in the Smith St Mall, about 12.45am on Sunday.
NT Police questioned the suspects near Knuckey St.
Duty Superintendent Rob Burgoyne said: “They denied any knowledge but they did have blood on their clothing.”
Marine Rotational Force media officer Lieutenant Jeremy Alexander said the four Marines were trying to hail a taxi when they were ambushed.
“At this time, there is no known motive for the assault,” he said, adding he believed the assailants stole “souvenirs”.
He would not reveal the ages or ranks of the Marines who were present, stating it was a force protection issue.
The victim was struck in the head with an “unknown hard object” and treated at Royal Darwin Hospital.
He was released about 10.30am.
Lt Alexander said police spoke to two eye witnesses and seized security camera footage that “captured the incident and corroborated the Marines’ statements”.
“The unfortunate actions of a few travellers will not affect the bond that Marines and the people of Darwin have built together,” he said.
Supt Burgoyne said all parties were intoxicated and one of the injured man’s mates received a cut cheek and was taken “home” to Robertson Barracks by the Marine Shore Patrol crew.
The Marines told police they expected to leave Australia within a month.
Police said no arrests had been made on Sunday evening.
Originally published as US Marine attacked by gang
View the original article here
Three of the man’s fellow soldiers rushed to help when about eight men, aged in their 20s, “snuck up” on the victim from behind near the Victoria Hotel, in the Smith St Mall, about 12.45am on Sunday.
NT Police questioned the suspects near Knuckey St.
Duty Superintendent Rob Burgoyne said: “They denied any knowledge but they did have blood on their clothing.”
Marine Rotational Force media officer Lieutenant Jeremy Alexander said the four Marines were trying to hail a taxi when they were ambushed.
“At this time, there is no known motive for the assault,” he said, adding he believed the assailants stole “souvenirs”.
He would not reveal the ages or ranks of the Marines who were present, stating it was a force protection issue.
The victim was struck in the head with an “unknown hard object” and treated at Royal Darwin Hospital.
He was released about 10.30am.
Lt Alexander said police spoke to two eye witnesses and seized security camera footage that “captured the incident and corroborated the Marines’ statements”.
“The unfortunate actions of a few travellers will not affect the bond that Marines and the people of Darwin have built together,” he said.
Supt Burgoyne said all parties were intoxicated and one of the injured man’s mates received a cut cheek and was taken “home” to Robertson Barracks by the Marine Shore Patrol crew.
The Marines told police they expected to leave Australia within a month.
Police said no arrests had been made on Sunday evening.
Originally published as US Marine attacked by gang
View the original article here
No comments:
Post a Comment