Shocking footage has been widely shared on social media
12:53, 08 Mar 2026Updated 12:57, 08 Mar 2026
A general file image of Philadelphia Street, Cabot Circus(Image: BristolLive)
A mum has criticised the inaction from onlookers as a group of boys and girls attacked her daughter at Cabot Circus.
The child’s mum, who asked only to be named as Stacey for fear of retaliation, said her daughter was walking to a bus stop after school on Wednesday when she was approached.
Avon and Somerset Police has since made several arrests and said the girl, who is in her mid-teens, was “attacked by a group of boys and girls believed to be aged between 12 and 18”.
She was taken to hospital. Shocking video footage appearing to show a frenzied attack has since circulated widely on social media.
Stacey said her daughter sought safety inside Zara after being approached but they followed her and surrounded her. When Zara staff failed to intervene the young girl left the shop, she said, when the violence unfolded.
The mum, who asked to keep her surname and the name of her daughter anonymous to prevent reprisals, said: “It’s awful, she was in town and a group of children followed her up to the bus stop that she was getting on.”
She described shocking details of the attack that followed, which cannot be published for legal reasons.
The girl’s parents have criticised shop staff, claiming no one came to their daughter’s aid. Stacey said: “She goes into Zara and she’s followed by a mob of them [the children].
“Staff members continue to look on but do nothing to help. She left the store because no one was helping, they just stared at her, so she left to go stand on the bus stop.”
She said it was then that she was attacked, claiming no one else stepped in to help her daughter.
She said her daughter did not engage in the violence and “didn’t have a clue what was going on”.
Stacey added: “Luckily, she wasn’t badly injured. She’s a bit bruised but there are no injuries. She had concussion and some bruising to her cheeks, a few heel marks on her legs. We’re very lucky.”
However, she said there were “multiple failures throughout the whole evening” with the lack of response from onlookers. Referencing staff at Zara, she said: “I’ve worked in retail – if that happened in my store, I’d do my utmost to protect that child. They must have done safeguarding.
“The bus driver as well, people at the bus stop. People just stood there and watched.”
A Zara UK spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the victim of this terrible incident. We are assisting the police with their investigation and will continue to support in any way that we can.”
The victim’s mum claimed the first police responders did not immediately call an ambulance and her daughter felt “ushered off” like “they couldn’t wait to get her off the scene”. She said police have since apologised.
Police said officers have maintained contact with the victim and her family, have visited them in person and have “ensured she has access to appropriate safeguarding support services”.
Stacey said she has pulled her children out of school due to concerns about safety. She praised the response of her daughter’s school, however, saying additional safeguarding had been actioned.
Neighbourhood chief inspector Keith Smith previously described the attack as “sickening” when police issued a witness appeal on Thursday (March 5).
In an updated statement on Friday, a force spokesperson said: “We have arrested three teenagers in connection with an assault on a child in Bristol city centre.
“An investigation has been launched after a girl, in her mid-teens, was attacked in Philadelphia Street, Cabot Circus, at around 7.45pm on Wednesday 4 March.
“Three individuals in their early teens have been arrested on suspicion of various offences, including affray, racially aggravated fear of violence and grievous bodily harm with intent, and the investigation continues.”
Chief inspector Smith added: “We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with schools and relevant partners, including Bristol City Council, and we urge anyone with information about the identity of those involved to come forward and assist our enquiries.”
Anyone with information can contact police via 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers, giving the reference number 5226061116.