A 16-year-old boy who allegedly assaulted two people after causing a disturbance in the Canberra Centre on Monday has been arrested.
Police will allege the teenager was with a 14-year-old girl in the Canberra Centre around 1.50pm on Monday as a group caused a disturbance and were shouting at shoppers.
They were approached by a 65-year-old man who reprimanded them for their behaviour.
However, when the man left the mall, it was alleged the boy followed him outside and struck him in the face multiple times, causing him to fall to the ground.
At this time, another bystander attempted to intervene. He was also then allegedly struck in the face multiple times by the teenager.
A woman who attempted to use a shopping trolley to prevent any further assaults was hit on the back on her head by a 14-year-old girl with a shopping bag.
All three victims sustained serious facial and mouth injuries as a result of the alleged assaults.
A short time later, police say the boy and girl fled the scene in a taxi.
They were located a short time later in the Canberra Outlet Centre, where the 16-year-old boy also allegedly stole a pair of shoes from a store. He attempted to flee from police but was arrested after a short foot pursuit.
The 14-year-old girl was also arrested shortly afterward.
The 16-year-old boy, who was on bail at the time of the incident, will face the ACT Children's Court this morning charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and theft.
The 14-year-old girl will face the ACT Children's Court next month charged with common assault.
