Mum’s anguish as son left traumatised by knifepoint robbery on Townsville bridge

The mother of a 12-year-old boy who was threatened at knifepoint and robbed while fishing along the Ross River says he’s still too scared to return to the spot months after the ordeal. WATCH THE VIDEO.

A Townsville mum says her son was attacked by a group of youths armed with a knife in Douglas.

The mother of a 12-year-old boy who was threatened at knifepoint and robbed while fishing along the Ross River says he’s still too scared to return to the spot months after the ordeal.

A Townsville mum, who can’t be named for legal reasons, shared how her son, aged 11 at the time, and his friend were ambushed by three young thugs on October 29, 2023.

The boys were riding their bikes across the Federation Footbridge in Douglas, heading home from a quiet fishing trip near the Riverview Tavern, when their day turned into a nightmare.

The attackers allegedly threatened to stab the boys and throw them off the bridge if they didn’t hand over their bikes.

The entire incident was caught on CCTV, and the mum has since watched the distressing footage.

“The knife was only centimetres from his face,” she said, clearly shaken.

“As a mother, it’s terrifying to think our kids can’t even go out to ride their bikes or fish without the fear of being attacked and robbed. These are simple things kids should be able to enjoy.”

The attack has left lasting scars on the boys, who are now fearful of where they go and who they trust.

“My son hasn’t been back to fish since it happened,” she said. “It’s changed how they interact with people and where they feel safe.”

What’s even more infuriating, she added, is that one of the young offenders allegedly went on to commit more crimes just days after the robbery.

“These kids get a slap on the wrist and are back out there, while our kids are left traumatised,” she said.

“It feels like the rights of the offenders are treated as more important than those of the victims.”

The incident happened on the Federation Footbridge in Douglas.

The mother attended court to see how the alleged offenders would be punished but left feeling completely disillusioned.

“When this happened, my son and his friend had their identities exposed right away. But if we wanted to know who these kids were, we had to sit in court and wait to hear their names,” she said.

Janelle Poole, LNP candidate for Mundingburra, said the Townsville community is “hurting, crying out for change.”

She claims there’s been a “287 per cent increase” in robberies in the city since the Labor government “watered down” the Youth Justice Act in 2015.

Originally published as Mum’s anguish as son left traumatised by knifepoint robbery on Townsville bridge