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A gang of teenage girls is being hunted by police after launching a shocking spree of unprovoked assaults on elderly passengers on trains.
British Transport Police have today released CCTV images of three teenage girls believed to be behind the attacks, which took place on Tuesday 18 March, on board Southeastern trains in South London.
The first incident unfolded at around 9.30pm when an elderly man was travelling on a Southeastern service from London Bridge to Woolwich Arsenal.
Without warning, the pensioner was reportedly attacked by a group of three girls in what officers are describing as a ‘vicious and cowardly’ assault.
Just over an hour later, at approximately 11pm, a second victim – this time an elderly woman – was targeted on a separate train heading from London Bridge to Erith.
One of the girls is said to have approached the woman before launching an assault. When another female passenger bravely stepped in to help, the attacker turned her aggression on the Good Samaritan too.
Police believe the same group of girls were involved in both shocking incidents, and are urging the public to help identify them.
British Transport Police have today released CCTV images of three teenage girls believed to be behind the attacks, which took place on Tuesday 18 March, on board Southeastern trains in South London
The first incident unfolded at around 9.30pm when an elderly man was travelling on a Southeastern service from London Bridge to Woolwich Arsenal.
One of the girls is said to have approached the woman before launching an assault. When another female passenger bravely stepped in to help, the attacker turned her aggression on the Good Samaritan too
Images released today show the suspects dressed in casual streetwear. One girl wore a pink top under a black parka with a fluffy hood.
Another was dressed in a black jacket with a red logo on the right sleeve, grey trousers, and black shoes. The third donned a black jacket over a grey tracksuit.
British Transport Police are now appealing to the public to help bring the attackers to justice.
A spokesperson said: ‘These were appalling attacks on vulnerable individuals who were simply going about their journeys. We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour on our rail network and urge anyone who recognises the girls in these images to come forward.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 770 of 18 March. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
