'Swarming' at Halifax Commons Sunday morning leaves three hurt

Halifax police will likely maintain stepped up patrols around Halifax's North Commons after a swarming early Sunday morning that injured three people.

A large group of youths attacked a woman and two men at about 1 a.m. on Cogswell Street by the Oval, said Staff Sergeant Greg Mason.

"One female and two males that were assaulted by a group of 10-15 youth. We do have a suspect description of one female that had dreadlocks and the rest were all males that were wearing dark clothing," he said.

The woman punched the female victim, knocking her to the ground and taking her wallet, he said.

A male victim was also knocked to the ground, then punched and kicked.

A second male began fighting back against the group. The attackers ran from the scene towards North Park Street.

Paramedics treated the three victims at the scene and they were released.

The investigation is continuing, Mason said.

"The area had been part of a special directed patrol that was due to be reassessed this week and we will be focusing more efforts in that area. We had a number of complaints in that area earlier in the month of November," he said.