Two teenagers have been charged with assault in Sydney’s CBD last weekend, which police will allege are hate-related crimes.
About 8.50pm on Sunday (6 February 2022), a 19-year-old man and two women – aged 20 and 21 – were walking along Castlereagh Street, Haymarket, when a black Volkswagen Golf pulled over nearby.
Police will allege one of the four occupants from the vehicle threatened the man, before one of the male passengers got out and assaulted the man, punching him in the head and knocking him to the ground.
When the younger woman attempted to intervene, she allegedly had an egg thrown at her, hitting her in the chest, while the injured man was again assaulted by being kicked while on the ground.
The vehicle drove away, and the incident was reported to officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command, who commenced investigations.
Following inquiries, police executed search warrants at two homes in Bankstown and Greenacre, about 9am on Thursday 10 February 2022.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station.
A 16-year-old boy presented at Bankstown Police Station where he was arrested.
The 17-year-old was charged with affray, assault causing actual bodily harm, two counts of common assault and driver not disclose identity of passenger as required.
The 16-year-old was charged with two counts of affray, assault causing actual bodily harm in company and common assault.
They were both given strict conditional bail to appear before children’s court on Thursday 3 March 2022.
Police will allege in court the assaults – which are being treated as hate crimes – are linked to one other incident.
The incident occurred about 8.30am on Sunday (6 February 2022), when a 24-year-old man was waiting at a bus stop at the corner of Bourke and McEvoy Streets, Waterloo.
The man has told police a vehicle – with four passengers – stopped nearby and threatened him before eggs were thrown at him, hitting in the eye and chest.
As the vehicle began to move away, a 26-year-old man – who witnessed the incident – attempted to intervene and was also threatened before the vehicle drove away.
The incident was reported to officers attached to South Sydney Police Area Command.
The younger man suffered bruising and swelling to his face.
Inquiries continue.
