Attempted murder arrests after two hit-and-runs

Five teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a stolen Mini Cooper was allegedly deliberately driven at people on bikes.

The car was involved in a hit-and-run after being driven into two boys riding a Sur-Ron electric motorbike at about 12:30 BST on Thursday on Teyfant Road in Bristol, Avon and Somerset Police said.

At about 17:30 BST the same day it was also seen following a 19-year-old man on a scrambler-type off-road bike along Fulford Road, before colliding with him on Hareclive Road.

The man was taken to hospital with facial injuries, while the two boys on the electric motorbike did not sustain serious injuries. All five suspects have been released on bail.

Insp Terry Murphy said: "We are keeping an open mind about this investigation and at this time we believe the incidents are linked and we're treating the collisions as a deliberate act."

The black Mini Cooper is believed to have been stolen from a property in Speedwell overnight on 28 May, and was later found abandoned in Hillcrest.

As well as attempted murder, one 16-year-old suspect was further arrested on suspicion of threatening a person with an offensive weapon, and for possessing a weapon for discharge of noxious liquid.

Four of the suspects, two aged 18, one aged 17 and one aged 16, were additionally arrested on suspicion of having a corrosive substance in a public place and possession of a knife in a public place.

Detectives are calling on anyone who saw the Mini in the area that day, saw either collision or who may have relevant dashcam or doorbell footage, to contact them.

Insp Murphy said: "We want to reassure the community that we're carrying out a full and thorough investigation and we are taking these incidents extremely seriously."

He added that there would be additional patrols by neighbourhood policing teams in the area in the coming days, as well as patrols by the mounted unit and the roads policing team.

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