POLICE are hunting for a gang of 10 balaclava clad thugs who bashed a teenager in Perth's southern suburbs at the weekend with pool cues, baseball bats and hockey sticks.

The 17-year-old victim known as Jimi was so badly assaulted he has been left with bleeding on the brain and a fractured skull.



He and three friends were walking along Safety Bay Road in Warnbro near the Gull petrol station just before 11pm on Saturday night when three cars containing 10 males parked around the corner, got out of their vehicles wielding baseball bats, hockey sticks, golf clubs and sticks before running towards the group of mates and attacking them with the weapons for up to two minutes.



Jimi is in Royal Perth Hospital with a fractured skull, facial injuries, bruising to the brain and right elbow.



He is in a stable condition.



Another one of his mates received minor injuries and the remaining two managed to run off and escape injury.



Disturbing CCTV images captured from a nearby business near where the attack happened has been released today by police.



It shows the armed thugs clearly wearing balaclavas and bandanas over their faces and holding an assortment of weapons.



Police today described the shocking attack as unprovoked and random.



“From what we see of the security footage, there appears to be absolutely no motive for it,” Detective Senior Constable Mark Balenzuela said.



“There is certainly no justification for anything like this.



“It seems to be a random act.



“The fact they are willing to arm themselves with these weapons is a particular concern.”



Jimi’s dad Andrew, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said seeing his son in hospital with such shocking injuries had been an awful experience.



He said his son - an active young man who enjoyed rugby and mountain bike riding - had been attacked just a few hundred metres from home.



“Who goes driving around with baseball bats looking to attack people?” Andrew said.



“It's unacceptable behaviour really.”



The gang of 10 thugs arrived and left in three cars.



One is believed to be a late model Ford Falcon while the other is a large dark blue sedan.



A description of the third car has not been made available.



Police would also like to speak to several people who came to the assistance of the group after the attack.



Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

