World Youth Day pilgrims bashed, robbed

ONE World Youth Day pilgrim needed emergency surgery and another fled with a black eye after the pair were bashed and robbed by a gang at Homebush Bay.

Police are appealing for public assistance following the ordeal, which happened at 1.30am on Saturday.
The two pilgrims - Western Samoan men aged 25 and 31 - were walking along Dawn Fraser Drive when they were attacked by four men and two women, all aged in their 20s, outside the Brewery Hotel.

The group took the younger victim’s backpack containing cash and a mobile phone before fleeing in a late-model black dual-cab utility with chrome wheels which police believe could be a Holden Rodeo.

The 31-year-old suffered bruising to his right eye socket and was able to escape the melee. The 25-year-old, however, received major injuries before fleeing to Olympic Park railway station and catching a train to Lidcombe.

He was rushed to Auburn Hospital, where he’s reportedly in a stable condition after having surgery and treatment for a fractured jaw and left eye socket, a severe upper lip laceration, and numerous loose teeth.
A number of crime scenes were identified and established at Homebush Bay and various items seized for forensic examination.
Police are also viewing security footage from various locations within the Olympic Park precinct and investigations are continuing.

Source