A pensioner in his 70s was hospitalised after being shot in the arm by a gang of teenagers wielding catapults on a busy high street in Cranbrook, Kent. The attack occurred at approximately 6:30pm on Tuesday 16 June on Waterloo Road.
Victim required surgery to remove ball bearing
The victim had a metal ball bearing, roughly the size of a 5p coin, surgically removed from his arm after it became embedded. A local resident, the victim's child, posted on Facebook: 'My dad is just so angry and frustrated that this group has been creating problems and damage around Cranbrook for some time and nothing seems to get done. He will recover from his injuries.'
The suspects, described as aged between 16 and 18, fled towards an area known locally as The Crane. Kent Police have launched an appeal for witnesses and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Wider pattern of catapult attacks in Kent
The incident is part of a broader trend of catapult-related offences in the county. Tunbridge Wells resident Jo Lazzam told the BBC she had witnessed children firing at ducks, dogs, and dog walkers. 'They've chased me with catapults and ball bearings. As I was running I felt wind by my ear as one went past. I heard another one hit a bush, luckily I wasn't actually hit. If they actually get you in the eye, it'll blind you. You will lose your eye. They are an extremely dangerous weapon,' she said.
Catapults are generally legal in the UK if used responsibly, but they can be treated as offensive weapons if carried in public without good reason or used to harm people, animals, or property.
Police response and statistics
Kent Police recorded an average of 14 offences per day linked to catapults last year. Superintendent Rob Marsh stated: 'Kent Police is aware of concerns about the use of catapults to damage property or target wildlife and we are determined to tackle those who are responsible. While it is not currently illegal to possess one, if an officer suspects a catapult has been used to commit a crime, if appropriate, the person possessing it will be arrested and the weapon, along with any projectiles such as ball bearings, will be seized and destroyed. I would urge anyone with information about the misuse of catapults to report it.'
