Group of teens terrorised victims on Sydney trains and in streets

Police have arrested 10 members of a youth gang they believe attacked and robbed at least five people around railway stations across Western Sydney.

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Police have arrested 10 members of a youth gang they believe attacked and robbed at least five people around railway stations across Western Sydney.

The gang, made up of youths of African appearance, calls itself the “BMF” (Black Mutha F.....) and carried out the assaults over two weeks in the Blacktown area, police allege.

In most cases the victims were surrounded by up to eight members of the gang who intimidated them into handing over mobile phones and wallets. In some cases they were also assaulted.

All those charged were aged between 14-18.

The youth gang was arrested without incident.

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The first report was at 9pm on December 18 when the gang is alleged to have surrounded a man walking near St Marys railway station before he was assaulted and robbed of his iPhone.

A week later, there was another almost identical attack at Blacktown station followed by three attacks on the night of January 6.

Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb speaks to media on Sunday. Picture: Julian Andrews

Police Transport and Public Safety Command, Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said: “These are serious alleged crimes and officers from North West Police Transport Command have acted swiftly to identify the group and put a stop to these incidents. This sort of behaviour won’t be tolerated by the public or by police.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe as they travel on public transport and anti-social and criminal behaviour will be targeted by the officers patrolling the network,” she said.

Police identified the group as members of a local gang who are all of African origin.

Last month the 10 members, many of whom were known to police, were arrested and have all been put before the courts charged with multiple counts of robberies and assaults.

All those charged, except for a 14-year-old boy were granted bail to appear in court over the next month

Senior police have been quick to point out the group was quickly identified and arrested without incident.

A timeline of the gang’s crime spree.

Western Sydney University criminologist and former NSW police officer Michael Kennedy said police had established good relationships through the PCYC.

“There is not a gang problem in the Sydney Sudanese community at all,” he said.

“There is not a gang problem in Sydney Sudanese community at all.

“NSW Police quickly established a great relationship between themselves and many members of the Sudanese community through the Police Citizen Youth Clubs and other programs.

“There are no more African gangs than there are other groups of dissafected youth who bandy together.”

Originally published as Group of teens terrorised victims on Sydney trains and in streets