POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man sustained a fractured jaw in an assault in Taunton (26/5).
The victim, a 20-year-old man, was walking through Victoria Park with two 18-year-old women at approximately 5pm.
They were approached by a large group of young people some of which then racially abused the two women before repeatedly punching the man in the face.
DS Mark Probert said: “This was a violent and disturbing attack in which the victim and his friends were threatened and intimidated by a large group of people.
“The victim was standing up for the two young women who had been racially abused and as a result he suffered a significant facial injury.
“There can never be any excuse for hate crime or violence in any shape or form and this criminality will not be tolerated.
“As part of our investigation we’re keen to talk to anyone who was in the park and witnessed the incident or may have mobile phone footage of the incident.”
Officers responding to the incident arrested two 16-year-old boys in connection with it and they have both since been released under investigation.
Four other people were also arrested in the park shortly after for disorder and we are currently investigating any links between the two incidents.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5217118496
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