Eight teens held by police after people fought with machetes on Southend seafront have been further arrested on suspicion of violent disorder as police vow to stop any repeat of the mayhem.
Seven weapons were seized following the fight which saw thugs wielding huge blades in front of horrified holidaymakers.
One person was stabbed in the horror that unfolded in front of terrified families and young children on the Essex seafront.
The teens, aged between 14 and 18, were initially arrested on suspicion of offences including possession of offensive weapons following the incident on Tuesday.
Detective Inspector Alison Hooper from Essex Police, who is leading the investigation, said officers are ‘working through volumes of footage to understand what has happened and individual roles in the disorder’.
It comes as a top officer said that police were ‘aware of another possible event planned’, and warned that anyone coming to commit crime will be ‘met by officers and dealt with’.
Police are investigating a street fight in Southend which involved thugs wielding huge blades in front of horrified holidaymakers
Seven weapons have also been seized after the ‘appalling’ violence and disorder on the Essex seafront which was captured on cameras and shared widely online
The force has set up a dedicated phone line for people to report information about what happened on Tuesday, and police are appealing for people to share footage with them.
Police said officers responded ‘quickly and robustly’ to reports of people with weapons on the seafront and made eight arrests.
Witnesses have told of the horror they experienced as the fight unfolded on Tuesday evening.
Nicola Tiney, who runs the Borough Hotel on the seafront, said she believed about 1,000 young people descended on the resort town, many from London, in an organised meet-up during hot and sunny weather.
Ms Tiney described how groups began arriving in the afternoon, before pockets of violence and disorder erupted at about 7pm.
She said: ‘Lots of them had their hoods up and were wearing masks and hats, just coming to the seafront resort to cause trouble.
‘They congregated at the other end of the seafront and they started kicking off amongst themselves and running around – there were machetes out in the middle of the road.
‘I had to get all of my customers in from the front – it was just disgusting.
‘I didn’t see anyone get hurt but you could see the machetes flying about at each other and then lots of them ran off down the beach with families around – I think one of them threw their machete into the sea.
‘Towards the town centre they were fighting with knives and machetes as well and it’s just them amongst themselves, it’s nothing to do with Southend.’
Footage posted on social media shows hooded thugs fighting with huge machetes in close proximity to a park
The chaos erupted on the seafront and High Street of Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday evening
Footage shared widely online shows masked thugs fighting in the streets with machetes
The clashes broke out in broad daylight near Southend’s Adventure Islands theme park
Ms Tiney also described seeing large groups running in the area ‘like a herd of bulls’, stopping traffic as they went.
wo of the people detained were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening or life-changing injuries, Essex Police said earlier this week.
DI Hooper said today: ‘All eight arrested remain in custody and our investigation into the incidents of Tuesday night is ongoing.
‘We are working through volumes of footage to understand what has happened and individual’s roles in the disorder, alongside speaking to a number of witnesses.
‘We need anyone who has information about what happened, and what led up to it, to contact us and we’ve set up a special telephone line specifically for this investigation.
‘The number is 0800 096 0095 so if you do have information I need to you to get in touch.’
Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett said police will have an ‘even larger visible presence’ in Southend in the coming days.
‘We are working with our partners to ensure if you come to Southend to enjoy our fantastic seafront you feel safe,’ he said.
‘If you see our officers and have any worries or concerns, please come and speak to them.
‘We are aware of another possible event planned.
‘We will be ready for that and will use the tools available to us to prevent any disorder.
‘My message is clear – if you’re coming here to create disorder or commit crime, don’t bother.
‘If you’re planning to bring weapons, drugs, or carry out violence you’ll be met by officers and dealt with.’
