A 15-YEAR-OLD boy is in hospital after a mass brawl in a Pitsea underpass.
Police were called to Hazelmere at about 6pm yesterday evening after reports of a massive fight between gangs of youths under the A13 flyover.
Officers arrived and found a 15-year-old boy with serious facial injuries.
He was taken to Basildon Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.
Within about an hour officers travelled to Stanford-le-Hope where they arrested nine youths at different locations.
The youngsters who are aged between 14 and 19 and from Tilbury, were arrested on suspicion of assault and affray.
They are currently being questioned at police stations across south Essex.
Officers later discovered a knife in the Pitsea underpass.
A police cordon was in place this morning while detectives investigated the scene.
It is believed that the fight was organised on social media.
Pitsea police officers have vowed to take swift action against anyone who organises street fights in the town.
Sergeant Mark Van Ingen, from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This type of incident will not be tolerated in Pitsea.
“The vast majority of people in our town are law abiding and we will persue any group or individual that comes here to cause trouble.
“We arrested a number of individuals following the incident yesterday and they are currently in police custody.”
Sgt Van Ingen said officers are obtaining a section 60 order which will give them the powers to stop and search.
He said there have been previous incidents in Pitsea but Wednesday’s was the most serious.
He said: “There has always been rivalry between different groups from different areas.
“But this is the first serious incident we have seen.
“Officers have been visiting local schools and we have stepped up high visibility patrols in the area to reassure the public.
“We are also working with our partners in Thurrock and the British Transport Police, to identify anyone who is using the rail network to travel to travel to and from here to cause trouble.”
See tomorrow's Echo for full story
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