Five injured in 'free-for-all' brawl of 20 youths outside college

Five people have been rushed to hospital – including one with serious injuries – following a 'mass brawl' outside a college in Bournemouth.

Police say they have arrested a number of people in connection with the incident, which took place on the town's Meyrick Road at around 2.46pm.

Armed police were deployed to the scene after reports of a number of injuries – with one person said to have suffered 'serious, but not life-threatening' injuries. A sixth person is understood to have been treated at the scene and discharged.

The incident happened close to Bournemouth and Poole College's campus on Meyrick Road; the college says it did not take place on its grounds.

Dorset Police said two people have been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent, while a third person has been arrested on suspicion of assault by beating.

Armed police have been sent to the scene of an alleged mass brawl outside a college in Bournemouth, Dorset 

Multiple marked and unmarked police vehicles attended the scene, with ambulances and air ambulances arriving to treat the wounded

Armed police officers with sub-machine guns speak to two people following an alleged mass brawl in Bournemouth town centre on Thursday

An armed officer with a sub-machine pistol, a handgun and a stun gun at the scene of the incident, described by one eyewitness as a 'free-for-all brawl'

The incident happened on Meyrick Road - which has the college campus on one side and the Roundhouse Hotel (pictured) on the other

Bournemouth and Poole College says it is aware of the incident, but says it did not take place on college grounds

Witnesses said two groups of around 20 people came together in the town centre in a 'free-for-all' fracas. 

Unconfirmed reports from eyewitnesses suggested some of those involved in the altercation may have been stabbed; Dorset Police has not commented on the nature of the injuries suffered.

A cordon was established at the scene, outside the Roundhouse Hotel, as officers carried out investigation work. The force says it has now progressed to an 'investigative phrase'. 

A woman who witnessed the part of the incident said: 'I suddenly saw this mass brawl. 

'There were 10 on each side and they were fighting. I think they were two groups of college students.

'I saw one of them lifting another boy's shirt up to check if he had been hurt.'

Henry Tootal, a 20-year-old student, told the Bournemouth Echo: 'We saw all the police cars and three people being taken out on stretchers.'

A parent who was outside the college to collect their son said: 'It was like a free-for-all brawl in the road. Never seen scenes like it.'

Another bystander said: 'I came down here because my granddaughter works at the college, and I wanted to check she was OK.

'I've heard three people were carried away on stretchers and there had been stabbings.'

Bournemouth and Poole College said it was aware of the incident, which it says took place outside of its grounds.

A spokesperson said: 'We understand that an incident has occurred outside the Bournemouth Campus of Bournemouth and Poole College this afternoon.

'Police are currently in attendance, and our team is assisting them as required.

'Due to the incident being a police matter, we are unable to comment further at this point in time.'

The South West Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST) confirmed it conveyed five people to hospital and treated a sixth at the scene

Dorset Police says its probe has now entered an 'investigative stage' after arrests were made

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent, while a third person has been arrested on suspicion of assault by beating

Police officers carry out investigations following the incident in Meyrick Road, Bournemouth on Thursday afternoon

The force says its enquiries are ongoing and a number of cordons remain in place (pictured: officers searching a bin for evidence)

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: 'Dorset Police received a report at 2.46pm on Thursday 25 January 2024 of a disturbance in Meyrick Road in Bournemouth.

'Officers attended the scene and five people were reported to have sustained injuries. All have been taken to hospital for treatment. 

'One of them has sustained injuries that are believed to be serious but not life threatening.

'Two people were arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent. A third person has been arrested on suspicion of assault by beating.

'Following the initial response of officers at the scene, this matter is now in an investigative phase and a policing presence will remain in the vicinity as further enquiries are conducted and a number of cordons have been put in place.

'Officers can be approached by members of the public with any information or concerns and neighbourhood policing teams will be carrying out reassurance patrols in the area.'

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST) said: 'We were called at 2.54pm to an incident on Meyrick Road, Bournemouth.

'We sent five double-crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, and two operations officers.

'We conveyed four patients by land ambulance to Poole Hospital and one patient by land ambulance to Southampton General Hospital.'

Separately, a spokesperson for SWAST confirmed to MailOnline that a sixth person was treated at the scene by paramedics and discharged.