Canadian tourist among six people assaulted in Melbourne CBD over Australian Grand Prix
A Canadian tourist has detailed how be was “sucker punched” so hard his shoes fell off, one of at least six random attacks on city pedestrians over the Melbourne Grand Prix.
Victoria
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A Canadian tourist says he was “sucker punched” so hard his shoes fell off in one of a series of random Melbourne CBD attacks over the Grand Prix weekend.
Police received five reports of random attacks in the CBD on Thursday, including an elderly man who was assaulted on Collins Street around 1.30pm.
Tourist Jared Small took to TikTok to share details of the attack – which he is yet to report to police – saying he walking near the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth Street on Thursday morning when he was punched without warning by a man.
“Bro you can’t make this up, I’m walking down the street in Melbourne and I literally just got punched in the face,” he said.
“I got sucker punched in the face, I’m on my phone and completely like not paying attention and a guy just comes – boom!
“My shoes fall off, I run away without shoes.
“I just wanted to run away from the guy because I thought he was going to chase me.
“Holy s*** what the hell.”
Mr Small was only visiting Melbourne for a few days during Grand Prix.
“I guess you could say I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he told the Herald Sun.
“(I) was in complete shock. One man helped me while all the other pedestrians walked away.”
In addition to Mr Small’s assault, five other people reported being attacked in the CBD on Thursday, police said.
Among the five reported assaults was the attack on the elderly man, who was punched on Collins St, while boutique retail store workers witnessed a window washer being attacked outside Bovet watches along the same road.
That night, a 22 year old man was arrested on Spencer Street and charged with unlawful assault, common law assault and resisting arrest.
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