Two Navy sailors bashed
TWO Navy sailors are recovering with upper-body injuries after being followed and attacked on Geelong’s waterfront early yesterday.
Police said the male victims, aged 21 and 22 from Western Australia, were walking back to their ship docked off Cunningham Pier when they were set upon by a group of men and a woman, about 3.45am.
Senior-Sergeant Mark Guthrie appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
“Both were taken to hospital for treatment and have since been released,” he said.
“They were followed by the males and a female down to the pier and assaulted.
“At this stage we’re waiting for more information.”
Geelong residents slammed the assault online, labelling the unprovoked attack as “disgraceful” and “horrible”.
“Young men who are willing to protect our country are attacked by scum who are not and who are cowards and slink about after dark. Gutless wonders,” Jennie Craven wrote.
John Fraser wrote, “No respect for those people that take up the challenge to serve their country, disgraceful.”
All offenders are described as caucasian and aged 20-25.
One of the men had long curly hair.
The second had short hair, a neck tattoo and wore a white T-shirt, white baseball cap and bum bag. The third man wore a dark top with a black baseball cap.
The woman had shoulderlength straight blonde hair and wore a denim jacket and black, torn jeans.
About 400 Navy personnel are in Geelong for the weekend before embarking on a seven-month operation across Asia and to Hawaii.
Anzac-class frigates HMAS Stuart and sister ship HMAS Toowoomba docked in Gee- long on Thursday. Anyone with information on the attacks can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppersvic.com.au.