YOUTHS allegedly involved in a savage attack on a wedding party at Point Walter in April are believed to be part of a gang that bashed a Fremantle shop owner last week.

Tom Bushby from The Piercing Places was set upon by 10 teenagers Monday afternoon after confronting them for knocking over signs, dragging a bin onto the road and creating a nuisance in the Fremantle Malls.

“They were being stupid and destroying things, so I said ‘why don’t you move on’ and then one of them started swinging a scooter at me,” Mr Bushby told the Herald.

“It started with four or five of them, then 10 started getting into me and I copped a brick in the back of the neck.”

The piercer says he fell to the ground and covered his face, but the attack continued with a further 10 or 11 kicks to his head. Bootlace marks are clearly visible in bruising on his forehead: “I’m lucky to be alive,” he said.

A nearby shop owner came to his rescue and the pair repelled the gang with pepper spray.

Police reportedly later questioned two youths who were admitted to Fremantle Hospital’s emergency department with stinging eyes, but have refused to provide any information about the case other than state no charges have been laid and it’s  being investigated.

Mr Bushby says the cops who interviewed him had made the connection between his attackers and the wedding party.

“This is stupid—how do they get to walk the streets still?” he asked.

In April 50 gatecrashers attacked wedding guests and threw bricks at the Point Walter Cafe where a reception was being held after one of the gang was refused a cigarette. Seven people were taken to Fremantle hospital with injuries sustained during the brawl.

Three youths from South Lake, Hammond Park and Fremantle were charged. The status of their cases is unknown as authorities refuse to provide information.

by STEVE GRANT