Three people have been injured, one critically, and four others arrested following a mass disorder event involving dozens on Auckland's Karangahape Rd early this morning.
Police received multiple reports of disorder just after 3.30am on Sunday. Officers arrived to find around 50 people fighting and deployed significant resources, including dog units, to disperse the crowd.
At 4.15am, a 33-year-old man was seriously injured following an assault outside Crown Bar on Queen St. The person responsible was unknown. The victim was taken to hospital.
It was followed by a second assault at 4.30am. A 27-year-old man was critically injured in the incident on Cobden St near Karangahape Rd. The person responsible was unknown. St John said an ambulance and a manager responded at 4.31am. The victim was taken to Auckland City Hospital.
At 5am, a 46-year-old man was seriously injured at the Mobil Service Station on the corner of Karangahape Rd and Ponsonby Rd. A 21-year-old man was arrested and will appear in Auckland District Court tomorrow charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Four people were arrested in relation to the disorder, including the man charged over the Mobil assault, a police spokesperson said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greaves said police were "disappointed at the bad, aggressive and careless behaviour on display" and vowed to hold all offenders to account.
Police asked anyone who witnessed or filmed the assaults to call 105.
'The whole road turned into a big brawl'
Keith Woodcock, a DJ at a bar on the popular night strip, told 1News there was "fight after fight after fight" when the clubs closed after 3am.
"Just a bit of a brawl started from one of the bars on K' Rd. I saw a couple of girls fighting first, and then it sort of got out of hand. People came from everywhere, and cars came from everywhere. The whole road turned into a big brawl."
He estimated up to 200–300 people were on the street, though not all were fighting.
"Once all the clubs came out, everyone was on the road. It was just fight after fight after fight."
Woodcock claimed some participants were arriving deliberately to join the fights.
"I saw a car pull up, and a couple of big boys got out ready for it. Ages were around 25 to 40 — no young people, just big boys."
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