The mother of a high school student ambushed in a “vicious mob attack” outside a train station claims the assault was retaliation for a fight at a party over the weekend.
She told the Herald she believed the mass, after-school brawl at the Sturges Rd Train Station carpark in West Auckland on Tuesday was a “planned” attack by a large group of Kelston Boys’ High School (KBHS) students against two Waitākere College students, including her son, who suffered injuries.
She now fears for her son’s safety after he received further violent threats.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, described Tuesday’s assault as a “vicious mob attack” and said it happened after an altercation at a party over the weekend, claiming that five or six KBHS students showed up uninvited “looking for one person”.
“They know who my son is so they went to my son and said, ‘where is so and so?’ My son refused to say where he was; he was actually hiding in his car because they saw them coming.”
She alleged the group threatened her son, saying, “you either tell us where he is or you have to take the hit”.
“From what I’ve seen from the video footage, my son is fighting with five or six people by himself.”
When others at the party intervened, the group “took off”.
She said a “one-on-one” fight with the person the group was initially after at the party was then “organised by both sides” on Tuesday to “squash the beef”.
However, she claimed that when her son and the other Waitākere student showed up at Sturges Rd Train Station, a large group of KBHS students arrived by train and in cars and “just started attacking”.
“There were only two Waitākere kids there but Kelston [students] brought 30-plus kids and blocked the streets … They didn’t want anybody leaving.”
She also claimed two other schools were involved.
She said her son is “embarrassed” about being involved.
“He said, ‘I know it was a stupid thing to do’.”
She is “upset” and “terrified” for her son, who hasn’t been back to school since the attack, after claiming some of the same KBHS students involved sent out direct threats of further violence on Wednesday night.
“They’ve said that because there was not enough damage they will not stop until somebody is in a coma or dead, and they specifically said they want my son and this other boy the most.”
She said she feels “powerless” and is considering taking her son out of school.
“I don’t want him to go back [to school] and I definitely don’t want him using public transport.
“I’m considering sending him out of Auckland because they’ve specifically said they’re not going to stop, and that he and this other kid are the main targets.
“It’s just not okay. We just don’t want any further retaliation.”
KBHS acting principal Steve Cole said on Wednesday that the school is aware of the incident and “is taking the matter seriously”.
Cole did not respond when approached by the Herald yesterday, and neither did Waitākere College principal Mark Shanahan.
Police confirmed they received “a further report” of assault and spoke “directly with the young person and his mother [yesterday] about what has occurred”.
“Police are actively investigating this large fight, and we would like to hear from anyone with information. Our investigation is still only in the early stages given we are dealing with an incident that involved a large number of people,” relieving Waitematā west area commander Inspector Mohammed Atiq told the Herald.
“Police will continue working with families involved with what has taken place, including providing advice. We are working with the schools involved.
“Police is aware of social media posts following the events that have occurred. We strongly advise anyone making threatening comments online to cease.
“We would like anyone who comes across threatening material posted online to ensure any screenshots are captured and are reported online, to assist our investigation.”
Tanya Harvey, Ministry of Education director of education Tāmaki Makaurau – north and west, told the Herald the Government department has also been involved.
“The ministry is aware of the reported incident and has been in contact with the two schools involved. The schools are managing the situation in line with their processes, and the ministry remains available to provide support as needed.”