TEENAGERS celebrating their exam results were ambushed by a gang carrying a haul of weapons including knives, swords and saws amid mayhem in a Clarkston park.
One teenage victim, 16, was stabbed during the fight while two others were also taken to hospital following the attack between Overlee Park and Netherton Braes.
The alarm was raised at around 8.15pm on Tuesday after the gang struck.
Social media footage shows a teenager charging at dozens of youths armed with a saw. A separate clip also shows the gang firing glass bottles at other teenagers. The area is known locally as the barracks.
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In the clip, terrified bystanders can be heard screaming in terror as they run away from the weapon-wielding thug.
The gang’s three victims were taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The teenager who was stabbed remains in a stable condition in hospital.
Another boy, 16, was treated for a head injury while a third teen, 16, received treatment for minor injuries. Both have since been released.
Clarkston teenager Amy Mackay said the exam revellers feared for their lives.
She said: “It happened in the forest part of Overlee and they chased after them.
“Then once they got out of the park there was a van and boys came out with saws, knives and swords.”
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Another resident, who asked not to be named, told the Evening Times: “The kids were celebrating their exam results and were in high spirits. They went down to the barracks and a few of them were drinking.
“I then saw a few of them running up the street looking upset and then the next thing police and ambulances were driving towards the park.”
The Evening Times understands a fight broke out between the youths prior to the incident. It is understood that some of those youths later returned in a van from nearby Castlemilk armed with weapons and confronted the teenagers.
Detectives, however, said they have yet to establish the circumstances leading up to the attack. It is also understood officers are still speaking to key witnesses.
The force, however, confirmed detectives are following a positive line of enquiry and reassured the public the large-scale trouble was an “isolated incident”.
Detective Sergeant Jim McLauchlan, from Cathcart CID, said: “We believe this to be an isolated incident involving two separate groups of teenagers in the area and extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
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“Police are following a positive line of enquiry in relation to the incident and I would urge any members of the public who were in the park yesterday evening and witnessed a disturbance, or anything at all suspicious, to get in touch.”
A police van remained at the scene throughout Wednesday and appeared to be patrolling the park.
There was, however, no sign of the mayhem from the night before and no police cordon in place.
Inspector Bryan McGeogh, from Giffnock Police Station, said: “I understand this incident will cause concern amongst the local community however I would like to reiterate that it is believed to be isolated and police are following a positive line of enquiry.
“Additional patrols will be in the area to provide reassurance.”
Local councillor David Macdonald told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “As I understand from various sources within the community, the group from Clarkston and Stamperland met up, and some other young people from another area... had arrived in a vehicle and there were some weapons taken out.”
Mr Macdonald said at least five ambulances were on the scene throughout the course of the evening, alongside a “large police presence”.
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He added: “My thoughts are with the victims and the families who were affected by the violence.”
Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw said: “This was the happiest of days for many young people across Eastwood. That it should end with a shocking and violent incident is as unacceptable as it is alarming. My best wishes go to the boys injured together with my hopes for a full and early recovery.”
Paul Masterton MP for East Renfrewshire added: “This was an extremely frightening incident and my thoughts are with those injured and their families. I hope the two boys taken to hospital make a full and speedy recovery.
“Tuesday was a day for young people across East Renfrewshire to celebrate fantastic achievements in their exams, and for it to have ended like this is truly shocking.”
A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said that their wardens regularly patrol the park.
The spokesman added: “We fully support Police Scotland and work closely with them to ensure East Renfrewshire is a safe place to live.
“Our community wardens regularly patrol all our parks and work closely with police to deal with any cases of anti-social behaviour. Serious incidents such as this are thankfully very rare and we will give any help we can to support the investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Helen Street Police Office through 101 quoting incident number 3675 of 7th August. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.
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