Masked thugs armed with machetes fight on the streets of Southend in shocking footage posted on social media – just two months after similar violence broke out on the Essex town's seafront.
Essex Police have confirmed they are investigating reports of an assault on Southchurch Road at around 12.15am on Sunday, September 15. Officers were at the scene within 10 minutes.
The footage was condemned by local councillor Daniel Nelson, who urged residents to remain “vigilant” after the “disgraceful” scenes.
One man was injured and taken to hospital, although his injuries were not life-threatening and did not result in serious consequences.
A 32-year-old Coventry man was arrested on suspicion of affray and remains in custody for questioning.
Investigations continue in the Southend area and police continue to maintain a strong presence in the area.
The investigation is being led by officers from the Serious Crime Unit and they will be on patrol in the coming days.
Chief Inspector Paul Hogben said: “I would ask anyone who may have information about this incident or any concerns to contact us as soon as possible.
“We take incidents of this nature extremely seriously and the Southend community can expect a robust response and investigation.
“We have a dedicated team investigating this incident and we will provide updates as the investigation progresses.”
Anyone with information can contact us via Essex Police's online chat service via its website. Witnesses can also call 101.
Police Councillor Nelson, who told the Express of his concerns after similar, unrelated footage emerged online of young men fighting with guns on July 29, wrote in a post on the X website: “These scenes are disgraceful.
“@EssexPoliceUK well done for making these arrests. Once again it must be reiterated that Southend remains a safe place to live, work and visit. But we must remain vigilant, these masked thugs have no place in our city.”