Five men arrested at Appleby Horse Fair for ‘assaulting’ boy, 16, ‘leaving him seriously injured’
FIVE men have been arrested at Appleby Horse Fair after a teen boy was reportedly assaulted.
The 16-year-old was allegedly attacked in the middle of a field that had been converted into a campsite for the annual get-together.
A female traveller staying on site told MailOnline: “Something kicked off and there was police tape everywhere.
“I haven’t got a clue what it was all about, and I don’t want to ask any questions either.”
Cops were called to Fair Hill field, in Cumbria, on Sunday where the youngster was taken to hospital with “significant” arm injuries.
He is today understood to be in a stable condition and remains in hospital.
A van, thought to have been linked to the suspected assault, was seized by police at the time.
Cumbria Police said: “In the early hours of Sunday morning (June 9) on a residential field at Appleby, police became aware of a 16-year-old with a significant injury to his arm.
“The cause of the injury is currently unknown, but police believe it may have resulted from an assault.
“As such, officers entered the field and arrested five men on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
“All five men have subsequently been released on police bail, with conditions not to enter the county unless to answer bail.
“The injured male remains in hospital in a stable condition.
“At this time we do not believe the incident has involved a knife or any other type of bladed article.
“Officers are appealing for anyone with information about this incident to come forward.”
It comes after a horse was worked to death at the fair in an act of “inexcusable cruelty” last week.
The three-year-old stallion was “covered in sores” when it collapsed at the event in Cumbria on Wednesday, June 5.
The poor helpless animal was said to have been suffering from an extremely high temperature before it dropped dead around 3pm.
It is not yet clear if the person responsible for the foal’s killing was part of the travelling community.
A massive clean-up got underway on Monday as around 10,000 travellers left the area.
They brought along more than 1,000 caravans and 3,000 horse-drawn vehicles.
Groups of travellers attend the festival to buy and sell horses.