Four teenagers from Far North Queensland punched and threatened with knife during violent attack on Cairns City bus

Four teenagers were bashed and threatened with a knife during a terrifying assault on a Cairns bus after being accused of “staring” at their attackers. This is how it unfolded.

Translink collaborate with Kinetic to fund contracted security guards for the Cairns network. Picture: Supplied.

A knife was held at a teenager’s back, while another was punched in the face during a violent attack on a public bus, in what the victims’ parents described as a deeply traumatic incident.

Two boys, aged 12 and 14, were punched in the face and threatened with a knife by teens on Monday afternoon before two girls, both 15, were also punched in the face, with one suffering significant facial bruising.

The 14-year-old boy’s father said his son was struck in the jaw while his 12-year-old mate was punched “hard” in the eye.

“The kids were freaking out, so they didn’t want any more trouble. They took the punches because they didn’t want to get stabbed as well,” the Redlynch dad said.

The 12-year-old boy went to the emergency department to be assessed for a feared eye socket fracture that was later cleared by staff.

The attack occurred on the Translink 121 bus route, which travels between the City and Redlynch, about 4.20pm on June 30.

Witnesses and parents of the victims said the attacks started when a group of teenagers allegedly approached four children travelling home after shopping during the school holidays.

The four assaulted teens were not known to each other, but had all been accused of “staring” at the assailants.

The 15-year-old girl’s father said it raised serious concerns for children using public transport.

He said receiving a phone call from his distressed daughter was terrifying.

“The first thing she said was, ‘I’m safe’, but I could hear her voice shaky and breaking,” he said.

“Then she started to break down and said that she’d been hit. I was just gutted.”

Translink said incidents involving this type of behaviour are rare and public transport remains safe, with millions of trips completed each year without incident. Picture: iStock.

Both girls are now reluctant to catch buses and their father is concerned about long-term psychological impacts.

The girls got off the bus at Tobruk Memorial Pool, where they sought a safe place to wait for their parents to collect them.

“The staff were really great and provided assistance,” the dad said.

Another father, a former youth support worker, said it was a shocking incident.

“These kids are getting beat up on buses. They can’t even catch a bus into town, let alone to and from school,” he said

It is understood the assailants got off the bus at a stop near Dunwoody’s Hotel in Cairns North.

A Queensland Police spokesman said investigations were ongoing, but confirmed a physical altercation occurred before the offenders exited the bus.

“Initial information indicates a group of unknown offenders became involved in a disturbance with four other passengers on-board a bus travelling on Bunda Street,” he said.

“Support is being offered to all victims.”

A Queensland Police spokesman said investigations were ongoing, but confirmed a physical altercation occurred before the offenders exited the bus. Picture: Brendan Radke.

A witness on the bus said the offenders were “chroming” — inhaling substances to get high, typically involving aerosols, paint or glue.

“The teens started threatening them with a knife, swearing. They started hitting the kids before they ran off the bus near Dunwoody’s,” the witness said.

A TransLink spokesperson said the driver was alerted to the incident by a passenger.

The service is run by TransLink and “delivery partner” Kinetic.

“While this is a police matter, everyone should be safe and secure on our public transport,” he said.

“Any act of violence against bus drivers or anyone on that network is unacceptable.”

The spokesman said buses were vital to the public transport network and security guards were on-board at night.

“A dedicated two-guard patrol vehicle drive the network during the evenings and work as directed by Kinetic,” he said.

Kinetic Group Ltd's new Launceston depot, updated as part of a $10m capital works program the company is undertaking. Picture: Supplied

“If a specific route is identified by the bus operator, one guard will travel on the bus, with the other guard following in the car.”

A Kinetic spokeswoman said it was assisting Queensland Police in their investigation, including providing CCTV footage from the vehicle.

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and drivers is our top priority,” she said.

“We encourage any passengers who witness inappropriate or unsafe behaviour to report it immediately to the police or to the bus driver, who will ensure emergency services are alerted.”

Originally published as Four teenagers from Far North Queensland punched and threatened with knife during violent attack on Cairns City bus