A Dundee University student who was punched and hit with a bottle by a group of teens while walking through the city centre described the attack as “scary” and “shocking”.

Finnbar Home, a 20-year-old second year student, was walking along West Marketgait with two friends when they were approached by a group of four teens.

The boys, aged around 16 to 18, began shouting at the student and his friends while they attempted to make their way to a nearby bar.

Attackers shouted at students before assault

Despite attempts by the students to calm things down, the situation got more tense and soon one of the teens hit the 20-year-old in the face.

He said: “They were just shouting stuff at us and we were just walking past.

“I literally said to them ‘we’re not starting anything’ and then one of the guys came up to me and just straight-up punched me.

“I was in shock but I was also a bit unfazed so I just kept walking.

“I think it kind of annoyed him that I didn’t try to keep things going because I think they were looking to fight for whatever reason.”

The students attempted to walk away, however they were followed by the teens who continued to taunt them.

By the time they reached South Ward Road, one of the attackers grabbed Finnbar’s friend by her hair.

Teens hit Dundee University student with bottle

He attempted to push the assailant away, however another teen then retaliated by smashing a bottle over the Dundee University student’s head.

He said: “Because I tried to push his friend off my friend, he kind of took a problem with that and he just started punching into me and stuff, and then he took a full glass bottle and smashed it over my head.

“It was pretty painful.

“I didn’t get knocked down or anything somehow, just took a bit of shock to my head and bruised it up pretty badly.

“I wasn’t bleeding, somehow I didn’t get any cuts or anything.”

After the scrape, the teens fled the scene.

If we had any reason to get into that fight it would be a bit less scary but we were just walking along.”

Finnbar Home

Finnbar and his friends then called the police, who escorted the student to hospital.

Luckily, his injuries weren’t severe and he was discharged the same night.

The student added: “It was a bit scary really.

“If we had any reason to get into that fight it would be a bit less scary but we were just walking along.”

Police looking for culprits

Police said they were called to reports of an assault on South Ward Road at around 11pm on Sunday where a 20-year-old man was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Constable Andrew Weir, of Dundee West Bell Street Police Station, said: “These attacks have been completely unprovoked and our enquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible.

“I urge anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information about the suspects to please contact officers.

“I am also appealing to motorists with dash cams, who were in the area around the time of the incident, to check their footage, they may have unknowingly captured images which would assist our investigation.”

Anyone with information is being asked to call 101 or call crimestoppers anonymously quoting incident reference number 4064 of 10 July.