Watch bare-chested brawl in shopping centre amid Traveller feud

The horrific incident – which saw carpet knives being produced as well as a floor mop – left a teen hospitalised

Carpet knifes and a floor mop were used as feuding Traveller families clashed bare-chested at an Irish shopping centre over the weekend

The horrific incident – which has sparked fears of serious repercussions – left a teen hospitalised with a non-life threatening wound to his stomach. Shocked and frightened shoppers looked on in horror while others tried to move away from the rampaging gang as they ran through the centre armed with the knives at around 3.30pm.

Police in the Republic now fear more reprisal attacks may happen between the feuding families. The shocking 45-second video starts with three topless men outside the shopping centre door appearing to goad each other before two of them start to punch each other.

The melee then moves inside the shopping centre where two of the topless males continue to fight each other. Knives were produced at this stage, sources say. The two topless men, followed by another topless male, continue to fight each other in front of shocked shoppers.

A male in blue shorts is then seen on the escalator with blood streaming from his stomach area while another male produces a floor mop and hits him with it. The injured male in the blue shorts manages to escape from the gang by walking up the ‘Down’ escalator while a male is heard shouting “We got him,” and “Come back down,” before the video ends.

“The gang of lads are not from the Newbridge area but it appears it was a planned attack,” sources said. “They were practically sword fighting with each other with the Stanley knives in front of shocked shoppers on a Sunday afternoon. They seemed to have complete disregard for anyone else around them.”

“There are now fears of serious repercussions following this incident,” sources told us. It is understood the injured male received stitches to his stomach wound at Naas General Hospital.

So far, no arrests have been made as gardai continue to investigate and continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward. In a statement, gardai said: “Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following an assault on Main Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare on Sunday, September 7.

“Gardaí were alerted to the incident at a commercial premises at approximately 3.30pm. A male juvenile was treated at Naas General Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

“Any pedestrians or road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were in the area at the time are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Newbridge Garda Station on (045) 440180, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing.”

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