Fundraisers have been set up to help the victim
Six teenagers have been arrested after a homeless man was filmed being attacked in shocking footage shared online.
In the horrific video, a group can seen approaching the man who was sat near his belongings. They then repeatedly assault him, shouting at him, punching and kicking him.
The man survived the attack and is “doing well” according to local police.
The footage was first shared on the ‘Truro…Our City’ Facebook page by a woman who wrote: “I have just received five videos of five teenagers kicking and beating a homeless man in the car park last night.
“The videos can’t be posted on here. However, the anti social behaviour officer and the police are involved. These videos make horrific viewing. One female involved. What in the world possesses these youngsters?”
Devon and Cornwall Police detective inspector Steve Moorcroft said of the arrests: “We are aware of footage that is circulating across social media which appears to show a horrific assault on a homeless man by a gang of teenagers, in Truro.
“Six teenagers are currently in police custody having been arrested in connection to this incident and enquiries continue into this matter.
“I wish to reassure the public that the matter is being dealt with, but ask that for the sake of the victim, that people do not share the footage of the attack.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101@dc.police.uk quoting log 973 12 February.”
https://twitter.com/DC_Police/status/1493133594021277699
Cornwall Live reports that two fundraising pages have been set up to help the man who was attacked.
One set up on JustGiving has already gone well past its target of raising £1,500 for the man, and reads: “It made me feel physically sick that this poor man had to go through what he has. I had to turn it off half way through I just keep thinking he’s someone’s family.
“I started this fundraising page to show him that we as a community want to help and get him back on his feet. No one deserves what he went through he was just trying to get his head down for the night.”
The other, on GoFundMe has raised more than £2,000. Set up by Ella Millen, she says: “I have never and will never tolerate bullying or any kind of physical abuse or verbal to anyone. Whether they deserve it or not.
“I feel awful for this man and as a young adult myself I am disgusted by the behaviour of these people.”
She added: “I have seen people talking about gifting this man money and I thought of a gofundme. Please donate anything you can to help this man get things to help him survive, if we get enough he may be able to afford a hotel room for more than a week.”
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