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Gang use snakes in street attack | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A gang brandishing snakes as 'weapons' attacked a 14-year-old boy with a 4ft (1.2m) python, forcing the reptile to bite the teenager's hand. | |
Police suspect the attack, in Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, may have had a racist element to it and officers are appealing for witnesses. | |
The boy was pinned to the floor on Saturday afternoon, as one gang member forced the green python to attack. | |
The teenager was taken to Frenchay Hospital for checks. | The teenager was taken to Frenchay Hospital for checks. |
Ambush predators | |
Police and the RSPCA are now investigating the incident, which took place at about 1500 BST. | |
Paramedics who attended the scene were left baffled by the injury and called Bristol Zoo for advice. | |
The group was apparently carrying several snakes and forced one of them to bite the boy on the hand, leaving two puncture wounds Ambulance service spokesman | |
A spokesman for Great Western Ambulance service (GWAS) said: "Ambulance staff consulted Google and Bristol Zoo experts after a teenager was attacked by a group of youths brandishing snakes. | A spokesman for Great Western Ambulance service (GWAS) said: "Ambulance staff consulted Google and Bristol Zoo experts after a teenager was attacked by a group of youths brandishing snakes. |
"The group was apparently carrying several snakes and forced one of them to bite the boy on the hand, leaving two puncture wounds." | "The group was apparently carrying several snakes and forced one of them to bite the boy on the hand, leaving two puncture wounds." |
Pythons are ambush predators which rely on crushing their prey, and are not venomous. | Pythons are ambush predators which rely on crushing their prey, and are not venomous. |
GWAS incident support officer Michael Howells, who was at the scene, said: "Although the patient was suffering breathing difficulties after the attack, this was probably due to panic rather than a reaction to the bite. I would probably be panicky if that happened to me." | |
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: "The teenager had been subject to racist comments and was then reportedly held down as a snake was held in front of him, which bit his right arm. | |
"The boy was taken to Frenchay Hospital with breathing problems, where he was treated for the injury to his arm. | |
"Police would like to hear from anyone who was in Merryweather Close at the time of the incident." |