More Arrests Made in Dating App Attacks

Two teenagers have been charged over violent dating app attacks in Invercargill.

Police can confirm that two further arrests have been made in relation to a series of violent assaults that occurred over a weekend earlier this month.

A 15-year-old male faces charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A 17-year-old male has been charged with aggravated robbery causing grievous bodily harm.

Both appeared in Invercargill Youth Court today.

The arrests relate specifically to assaults at Queens Park earlier this month. Four other people have already been charged for related crimes across the series of attacks.

Acting Inspector Mel Robertson, Southland Area Prevention Manager, said police had identified a deliberate pattern.

"Across all incidents identified, Police have observed a consistent and highly concerning pattern of behaviour, where victims have been deliberately lured using dating applications and then violently assaulted," Robertson said.

"This reinforces the serious, deliberate nature of this offending."

The attacks occurred over a weekend earlier this month. Victims were contacted through dating apps and then assaulted when they met their supposed matches.

Robertson said police remained focused on holding all those involved to account.

"Police remain focused on identifying and holding all those involved to account, and further enforcement action remains likely as enquiries continue," she said.

Six people have now been charged across the series of attacks.