3 teen girls charged with assault in Surrey, B.C.: transit police

Three teenage girls have each been charged with assault and assault causing bodily harm in connection to two incidents on the transit system in Surrey, B.C., according to Metro Vancouver Transit Police.

The suspects — a 15-year-old from Abbotsford and a 13-year-old and 17-year-old from Surrey — cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

According to police, on July 11 around 9 p.m. PT, a 16-year-old student on board the SkyTrain reached out her arm to prevent one of the teens from prying open the train doors as it travelled across the SkyBridge from Columbia Station into Surrey.

The teens encircled the student and allegedly punched, kicked and dragged her by her hair, police said in a news release Thursday.

"The student was able to get help thanks to passengers on board the train and two SkyTrain attendants at Surrey Central Station, who called police and an ambulance," police said.

The student was taken to hospital for treatment, police added.

Just after midnight on the same night, the teens surrounded an 18-year-old woman on a bus at 160th Street and 100th Avenue after a "verbal exchange," according to police.

"The suspects allegedly punched and kicked the victim, and pulled out clumps of her hair," police said.

The teens are currently in custody of their guardians, awaiting a court appearance, police said.