A mother walking home after a routine shopping trip was subjected to a horrifying attack by a group of teenage girls dressed for Halloween in an incident that left her shaken and terrified. Ewa Soltysiak, a 43-year-old woman, found herself confronted by a gang of menacing youths as she made her way back from the supermarket. The altercation took place at a bus stop around 8 pm on a Thursday, where the teenagers, donned in festive attire, initiated an unprovoked assault on her.
Recalling the distressing encounter, Ewa shared, “I was coming back from the shops carrying my shopping. I was walking past a bus stop near Cameron Toll where a few adults were waiting for the bus, but there was also a large group of girls on the street, teenagers dressed for a party.” The situation quickly escalated when one of the girls, significantly larger and heavier than Ewa, struck her on the head from behind. Despite trying to reason with them, Ewa found herself surrounded by the girls, who proceeded to push and hit her with various items, including a handbag and a phone.
In a display of courage, Ewa attempted to record the incident on her phone to gather evidence. She described the escalating aggression, stating, “I was walking backward because they continued to shout at me more and more insistently, swearing and waving objects.” The girls reacted by covering their faces, indicating a level of awareness of the potential consequences of their actions. Ewa, deeply frightened by the ordeal, highlighted her concern for her young son waiting at home, underscoring the urgency she felt to safely return to him.
The situation took a potentially darker turn, with Ewa speculating that the intervention of a passing vehicle may have prevented a more severe assault. Reflecting on the distressing episode, she expressed her dismay at the prevalence of such behaviour in society, urging for action to address and curb such instances. The harrowing experience left her profoundly shaken, with lingering shock and disbelief at the brazen attack she endured.
As Ewa grapples with the aftermath of the traumatic event, her account serves as a stark reminder of the need to address instances of violence and aggression in the community. The incident underscores the importance of collective action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all individuals as they go about their daily lives.