18 teenagers aged 16 to 30 have been charged by An Giang provincial police with intentional injury and public disorder on 12/8. 13 of them have been detained, while the others are out on bail.

An, the ringleader, is below the age of criminal responsibility and has been handed over to local authorities for educational measures.

12 of the 13 detained teenagers. Photo: Tien Tam

According to the investigation, An had a dispute with Canh, 16. The two agreed to meet near the Mai Cong Chanh bridge in Vinh An commune to "settle things." On the evening of 26/7, An gathered 18 others armed with homemade knives and glass bottles. However, Canh and his group didn't appear.

An's group noticed scaffolding at a nearby house and started pulling out metal pipes to use as weapons. Hearing the commotion, the homeowner, Mr. Nhan, and his relatives came out to intervene. An's group attacked them with the bottles.

Mr. Nhan defended himself with a metal pipe, knocking a knife out of one teenager's hand. However, he was then slashed multiple times by the group and collapsed at the scene. He was taken to the hospital by his family and survived.

After two days of investigation, police summoned and charged 19 teenagers.

Ngoc Tai - Tien Tam