Two teenage boys are recovering at home after being punched in the face while waiting for a bus in Riccarton.

The attack happened at 4.30 PM, Tuesday at the Riccarton Metro lounge on Riccarton Road.

One of the boy’s mothers told Chris Lynch her 14-year-old son and his friends were waiting for a bus when they were set upon by three other boys.

“There were four boys together waiting for a bus. They had just attended a movie at Westfield for a birthday celebration.

It seemed like a safe time for the boys to go to the movies.”

The mother said the attack was unprovoked.

Police told her the three attackers, who were 13 years of age, had been assaulting other teens in the mall that day.

“The [Riccarton Metro lounge] security guard was there at the time and called the police, but it seems that they can’t do anything unless they catch them.

I just think more parents need to be aware. I didn’t realise this was such an issue in Riccarton.”

Her son suffered a broken tooth and bleeding nose, while his friend suffered very bruised jaw and cheeks.

“We have talked to the police and they have footage – and can see the attack was completely unprovoked.”

The mother said “on a more positive note, there was a lovely lady who brought both our boys chocolate and water and sat with them until the police arrived. Some kindness is still left.”

Westfield Shopper witnesses earlier attack

A shopper at Westfield Mall said minutes before the incident she saw a group of children between the ages of 11 and 16 walking around looking for trouble.

“As two other boys walked past them, the mob of unruly teenagers, started baiting them, trying to instigate a fight.

They were getting very much in the boys’ faces. One of the offenders started shoving and kicking the boy’s feet trying to trip him up.

By this stage, I had enough and shouted at the mob to leave them alone. That gave the boys a chance to run away, and up the travelator. But the mob ran after them. The boys seemed to escape, or so I thought.

The mob of kids then ran back down the travelator and punched a man in the face, who tried to stop them.

These kids were totally out of control. The police were phoned, but the kids simply ran away.”

Environment Canterbury contracts Metro Bus to run the transport network.

A spokesperson said “Environment Canterbury staff are working closely with their Christchurch City Council colleagues and police to influence solutions to ensure that the people of Christchurch can continue to feel confident that they will be safe when using our public transport system.”

The two Metro lounges in Riccarton are owned by Christchurch City Council, with the provision of security and cleaning services and resources managed and overseen by them. 

In a one-line statement, a police spokeswoman said “police responded to a report of a minor assault at around 4:50pm near the Riccarton bus stop.