School invaders' guide suspended

Photo / Martin Sykes

The Lynfield College student who led a group of armed teenagers to a classroom where they beat up a 14-year-old boy has been suspended from school.

Staff of the police youth services division are dealing with the eight intruders involved in Monday's attack, which is believed to have been sparked by comments on the social networking website Bebo.

The teenagers - some from nearby Mt Roskill Grammar - entered the school armed with a softball bat and began punching the victim in front of his teacher and fellow students while he was in health class.

Video surveillance footage given to the police shows the attackers were in the Lynfield College grounds for only two minutes.

Principal Steve Bovaird said the Lynfield student who led the teenagers to their target would appear next week before the board of trustees, which would decide whether he would be expelled or be allowed back to school on certain conditions.

The victim, who required medical treatment for cuts and bruises, had yet to return to school.

Mr Bovaird spoke to the college yesterday about internet safety.

"Think twice before you hit the send button," he said. "Don't say something to someone that you wouldn't say to them face to face. Students aren't the only ones guilty of that."

It is understood Mt Roskill Grammar students had a term holiday on Monday so the attackers were not under the school's care.

Principal Greg Watson would not reveal details of the students involved, saying only: "The assault on the student at Lynfield College is an extremely serious matter. At Mt Roskill Grammar School, we are investigating all of the options available. The matter is also in the hands of the police."

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said officers were called to Lynfield College about 1pm.

The eight attackers - aged between 14 and 16 - were found later in the afternoon.

Three will be dealt with by police youth services staff under a referral for aggravated assault and for unlawfully being on a property.

The other five had less seriously been reported to youth services in relation to the incident.

Ms Hegarty said police might hold family group conferences for the three referred teenagers. This process might also include their families and any victims, which could include the school and witnesses.

It is understood one of the attackers yelled out the name of an Afghan street gang during the violence.

Ms Hegarty said the intruders were from at least three ethnic backgrounds.

Police were aware of street groups but would not reveal the nature of them, she said.

"We are fully aware of the existence of several ethnically based and geographically based groups in the western area of the Auckland City district but prefer not to elevate their profiles by singling any particular groups out for specific comment."