Seven News cameraman attacked by violent teenage thugs in Queensland street
A Seven News cameraman has been attacked by a gang of violent teenage thugs in a vicious daylight ambush in the middle of a suburban street.
It happened as lensman Allen Taylor tried to stop the kids picking on someone he says was half their size.
The Maryborough teens were foul-mouthed and fired up - and when Taylor pulled over to stop them picking on the smaller child, they decided to turn on him after realising he was filming their actions.
They hurled insults first, then a skateboard, then a heavy steel hydrant plate.
After calling the cameraman a "maggot" and worse, they walk away, regather, then head back to confront the still-filming cameraman.
"I'm glad it wasn't an elderly person or someone younger," Taylor said.
"If it was someone else, those people would've had no chance."
The teenagers throw the steel plate again, this time hitting Taylor in the leg.
"It's a good gash, right on the shin, pretty sure I can see bone," Taylor said.
While not wanting to press charges, Taylor made a complaint to police.
"If they keep going on with that pack mentality, they're going to end up in jail," he said.
Youth gangs and young repeat offenders are keeping police on their toes across Queensland.
Further north in Townsville, police launched Operation Quebec Ironside to disrupt the drug trade, target crime hot spots and talk to residents about crime prevention.
Teenage law-breakers will be strong focus, police say.
"We're very optimistic that we'll continue to see a high range of reported crimes, solved very quickly," Supt Steve Munro of Townsville Police said.
