Bournemouth brawl: Three college students among five injured

Police were called to Meyrick Road just before 15:00 GMT on Thursday

A college has said three of its students were among five people injured during a fracas in Bournemouth.

Police said it involved about six young people in Meyrick Road on Thursday at about 14:45 GMT, with reports a knife and glass bottle were used.

Three air ambulances and five double-crewed ambulances were sent with five people taken to hospital - all suffered minor injuries, police said.

Two men and a 17-year-old girl were arrested.

The men, aged 24 and 25, were arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent. They were among those taken to hospital.

A girl, aged 17 from Bournemouth, was arrested on suspicion of assault and wounding with intent.

Two teenage boys and a man in his 20s were the three others taken to hospital for treatment.

Armed police attended the scene and were seen searching people's bags

Det Chf Insp Andy Bell, of Dorset Police, said: "We believe this incident involved two groups of young people who were known to each other and there was no wider threat to others in the area.

"It is reported that a knife and a glass bottle were used in the incident and thankfully, there were no serious injuries."

Three people have been arrested following the incident, which happened at about 15:00 GMT

In a statement, Phil Sayles, principal and chief executive of Bournemouth and Poole College, said: "I am deeply concerned about the incident, which took place near our Bournemouth campus, and that three of our students were injured in it.

"My heart goes out to the students and their families, who we were immediately in contact with after the incident, and all those affected by the incident."

He said staff and the college security team had intervened to stop the incident.

The college remains open with staff working to reassure students.

"We are providing support to all students and team who have been affected by yesterday's incident and will continue to ensure our college community feels fully supported and protected," Mr Sayles said.

Three air ambulances and five crews of paramedics were sent to the scene

Bournemouth and Poole College student, Caleb, who was among those who ran out to the street when they heard the mayhem outside, said: "I was in class and then our teacher came running in and said that someone had been attacked.

"We saw police and then armed police turn up," he said.

"It was frightening. It was just the biggest shock."

Local shop owner Bez Naragi described the incident as "scary" after witnessing the number of police in Meyrick Road on Thursday

Local shop owner, Bez Naragi, said: "I came to the window of my shop. I'd seen them block the road off, then I saw more police turning up, then I saw armed response turn up and block the road.

"I did see a couple of people being put into police cars, handcuffed, so it was quite scary."

Officers were seen searching bins in the area

Witnesses and anyone with information or footage are urged to contact Dorset Police.

The force said officers remained at the scene and neighbourhood policing teams would be carrying out reassurance patrols in the area.

Cordons have been removed from the road and outside Roundhouse Hotel.

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