A teenage girl was reportedly physically assaulted by a group of young people near 105 Street and Kingsway Thursday afternoon.
The incident was reported to Edmonton Police Service around 3:40 p.m.
“We saw the large group of people down there,” said a 14-year-old girl who witnessed the incident. “All kids, all rowdy, all screaming.”
The girl’s family has asked for her not to be identified by name out of concern for her safety.
According to the girl, five or six girls were attacking the victim, believed to be 13, as others recorded it with their cellphones.
“She was just sitting there covering her face, screaming at them, crying for them to let her go.”
The witness said there were adults nearby at the time, but none of them stepped in to put a stop to it.
“As soon as she got out one of the times, my friend and I, we grabbed her, we led her away,” she said.
“Then finally, the adults stepped in and made a wall between us.”
Edmonton police say the girl was approached by approximately three youths whose genders have not been confirmed.
Officers are still investigating and have not determined if weapons were used during the assault.
The group reportedly ran away afterwards.
Police believe the girl knows the suspects. The EPS thinks the assault “is an isolated incident.”
The girl went to a nearby hospital and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. She has since been released.
The witness and her friend accompanied the girl to the hospital and have filed police statements.
The witness’ father drove both the victim and her father home afterwards.
“I was worried,” he said. “Scared that my daughter could have lost her life trying to help another child.”
“I’m still shocked that this could have happened so close to a place that we thought was safe,” his daughter added.
Edmonton Transit Services and Edmonton Public Schools are helping officers investigate.
In a statement to Global News, Edmonton Public confirmed police are investigating a matter involving some of its students.
“We are fully co-operating with the investigation,” the statement read.
“Student safety is a top priority for both our schools and our district. We want all our students to feel safe and secure when they come to our schools and strongly believe all students should be treated with dignity and respect by their fellow students. As a result, we have clear expectations for student conduct and behaviour.”
No arrests have been made.
With files from Vinesh Pratap, Global News