Two 12-year-old girls have been charged after what police describe as a “violent assault” left a woman unconscious at an Edmonton train station.
The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) said the incident occurred on Nov. 26 at about 8:30 p.m. at the Coliseum LRT station.
The girls ran from the area but were located by police a short distance away, according to the release. They have both been charged with aggravated assault.
The news release said the woman is in critical condition and “remains in hospital with significant head and facial injuries.”
Violent Crimes by Youth on the Rise
The number of violent crimes committed by youth under 18 has been increasing, according to Statistics Canada.The report also noted that crimes involving more than one youth are on the rise.
“In 2022, police reported 19 incidents with two or more youths accused of homicide, compared with an average of five incidents in the previous 10 years,” the report authors said. “There were seven incidents with three or more youths accused of homicide in 2022, compared with an average of one incident in the previous 10 years.”
In Toronto, four 13-year-old boys were charged with assault after public transit employees were attacked. The Toronto Transit Commission said the incident started inside a bus in Scarborough, Ontario.