John Culatto
A GANGLAND style violent brawl erupted on a busy Gibraltar street yesterday evening leading to five arrests.
According to the Royal Gibraltar Police, people attacked each other with ‘sticks and metal poles’ on Waterport Road in extraordinary scenes.
Daniel and Dylon Bates, 19 and 21-years-old respectively, and both of Varyl Begg Estate were charged with violent disorder and carrying an offensive weapon in a public place.
Mark Macias, 30, of Laguna Estate was also charged with violent disorder and two counts of carrying an offensive weapon in a public place.
Jordan and Bruce Martinez, 34 and 35-years-old each, of Beach View Terraces and Varyl Begg Estate respectively were both charged with violent disorder, ABH and carrying weapons in a public place.
The charges related not only to the clash in Waterport Road but to other incidents over the week before it.
The fight, presumably between two groups of people seems to have been connected with a number of other violent incidents over the last few days.
Damage to vehicles and threats to people’s lives have been made although it is unsure if these are connected to this larger fight.
“We wish to reassure the public that incidents such as these will not be tolerated on the streets of Gibraltar,” said a Royal Gibraltar Police spokesperson.
“The RGP has already arrested four local males in connection with yesterday’s events.
“Our proactive investigation is ongoing, with further arrests being likely.”
It is as yet unclear how the brawl unfolded although judging by the fact weapons are involved it is quite possible it was planned beforehand.
If so, it would be one of the first times such violence has unfolded on public streets for quite some time.
The police have asked members of the public to send photographs or phone footage of to the RGP website or to call the New Mole Police station on 20072500.
The RGP added ‘it is taking these incidents extremely seriously’ and will continue investigations ‘until all those responsible have been apprehended’.
