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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Gang use snake in street attack | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A gang brandishing a snake as a 'weapon' attacked a 14-year-old boy with a 4ft (1.2m) python, forcing the reptile to bite the teenager's arm. | |
| Police suspect the attack, in Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, may have had a racist element to it and officers are appealing for witnesses. | 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 boy was pinned to the floor on Saturday afternoon, as one gang member forced the green python to attack. |
| Two youths aged 16 and 17, both boys, are being questioned. | |
| The teenager was taken to Frenchay Hospital for checks. | The teenager was taken to Frenchay Hospital for checks. |
| Ambush predators | Ambush predators |
| Police and the RSPCA are now investigating the incident, which took place at about 1500 BST. | 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. | Paramedics who attended the scene were left baffled by the injury and called Bristol Zoo for advice. |
| 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." | |
| The spokesman added that the group forced the snake to bite the boy on the arm, 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." | 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. | 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. | "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." | "Police would like to hear from anyone who was in Merryweather Close at the time of the incident." |