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A European tourist has fled Melbourne and returned home after he was bashed and robbed by a group of youths at St Kilda Pier.
The 34-year-old Norwegian man was visiting St Kilda pier on Thursday last week when he was approached by a large group of people aged in their late teens to early 20s, police allege.
The man surrounded by his alleged attackers at St Kilda pier.Credit: Nine
Video posted on social media shows the man, in a pink polo shirt and long pants, being chased by a swarm of agitated youths. When he broke into a run, the group chased him down and allegedly assaulted him.
The man suffered a broken arm and his mobile phone was stolen and thrown into the bay by one of the alleged attackers.
“Despite intending to spend Christmas in Australia, he has since returned home,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“The offenders fled the scene prior to police arrival.”
Police are searching for three men and a woman they believe were involved. Detectives are also appealing for witnesses to come forward, including “a large number of bystanders” who watched on.
Marc, who didn’t want to give his last name but witnessed the St Kilda pier attack, described it as a “bee swarm” and that he heard police sirens soon after it occurred.
Marc said he saw a man being chased down the pier before the altercation began. He estimated that about 150 young people surrounded the man.
“They were all on their phones filming and taking photos … it will be on social media soon,” he said.
Police believe these people may be able to assist with their enquiries. Credit: Victoria Police
The incident occurred on the same day as a separate beach brawl at Mordialloc beach, where a large group of teenagers had gathered. One day earlier, a large group of teens gathered on the same beach before storming a nearby Woolworths, knocking over shelves, throwing products, shoplifting and abusing staff and customers. The group left the supermarket before a violent brawl broke out between the teenagers on the beach.
With Gemma Grant
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