Teen charged with assault after tourist’s arm broken at St Kilda Pier

Police have charged a teenager for his alleged role in the group bashing of a Norwegian tourist at St Kilda Pier last week.

The 19-year-old man from Deer Park turned himself in to police on Wednesday evening and was charged with assault, intentionally causing injury, robbery, affray and theft.

The 34-year-old victim from Norway 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.

The group accused the victim of taking photos of people on the pier, but despite the tourist offering to show his phone screen to the group, they chased him down and allegedly assaulted him.

Police allege the attackers broke the man’s arm and stole his mobile phone, before throwing it into the bay.

The victim had intended to spend Christmas in Australia, but returned to Norway shortly after the alleged assault.

“To be confronted, particularly in the middle of the day … he was just overwhelmed, he was shocked,” Detective Senior Constable Jesse Coppel told reporters on Wednesday.

“This behaviour doesn’t belong here.”

Police are searching for at least seven more alleged offenders and are appealing for a “large number of bystanders” to come forward.

Marc, who witnessed the attack but declined to provide his last name, said the man was surrounded by about 150 young people.

“They were all on their phones filming and taking photos,” Marc told The Age shortly after the alleged assault.

The 19-year-old alleged offender was bailed and will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on July 8 next year.

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