The incident occurred between 10pm and 11pm on Thursday, March 17 on Yarm Lane, Stockton, outside the Premier convenience store.
Two women and one man, all aged in their 20s, reported suffering verbal abuse from a group of four males. The group of men then launched a physical attack, involving a weapon, against the three victims.
The assailants are described as male and thought to be aged in their late teens to 20s. The group of men were all around 5’7” and wearing zip-up hoodie tops, thought to be dark-coloured.
One of the female victims reported losing consciousness as a result of the assault and also suffered an arm injury. The second female victim sustained injuries to her eye and elbow. Both women required hospital treatment.
Officers are investigating this matter as both a serious assault and as a hate crime. Enquiries are already underway, including viewing relevant CCTV.
Police now want to appeal to members of the public who may have witnessed this incident to please share what they saw, or any information which may assist, on 101, reference 044726.
Alternatively, anyone who may have information on this matter but does not want to give their name, can pass information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phoning 0800 555 111.
