A 14-year-old boy suffered a “significant injury” to his hand when he was attacked by three other teens, robbed and struck with a machete inside Winnipeg’s Polo Park shopping mall, police say.
The victim was shopping around 8:30 p.m. on Friday when the three teens approached him.
He was hit multiple times by a machete, causing him to fall to the ground, police said in a news release on Monday.
As the assault continued, the victim was robbed of personal property. The attackers then ran off.
A police spokesperson confirmed to CBC News that the attack was inside the mall.
Police were called and the victim was given emergency care before being rushed to hospital in stable condition.
A short time later, officers found the three attackers at a restaurant a couple of blocks away on St. Matthews Avenue.
A 13-year-old boy is charged with robbery and three warrants for failing to comply with a prior sentence.
A 14-year-old boy is charged with robbery and a 15-year-old boy is facing a charge of robbery.
Police did not identify which of the attackers had the machete nor did they provide any additional information on the injuries suffered by the victim.
In an email to CBC, Polo Park general manager Peter Havens said he couldn’t comment as the incident is under an active investigation.
However, he said Cadillac Fairview, which owns the mall, prioritizes the safety and security of its shoppers, employees and tenants, and is working closely with community emergency services partners and the Winnipeg Police Service.
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