More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Home Canterbury News Article
Two months have passed since a brutal attack on a young German student - yet no-one has been charged by police.
Daniel Ezzedine, 17, was airlifted to a London hospital in a serious condition after he was assaulted in Canterbury city centre on the evening of June 6.
He sustained horrific injuries in the shocking attack in Rose Lane, and was given just a 30% chance of survival by doctors.
The teen was put in an induced coma. He is now awake but remains in a serious condition in hospital.
Eleven people have so far been arrested in connection with the incident. They have all have since been released on bail without charge.
But police say they are carrying out a "full and thorough" investigation, and are liaising with German authorities as they look into what happened.
"We have dedicated officers working on this case, which includes examining hours of CCTV footage..." Det Ch Insp Chris Greenstreet
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Greenstreet, who is leading the investigation, said: "In the interests of providing the best possible service to the victim and in order to provide the strongest case to the Crown Prosecution Service, it is important that we carry out a full and thorough investigation.
"Since the serious assault we have arrested 11 people. All of those have been released on bail with strict bail conditions while we continue to investigate the incident.
"We have dedicated officers working on this case, which includes examining hours of CCTV footage and witness statements, as well as liaising with colleagues in Germany and the CPS, and we continue to work to establish what led up to the assault, identify the offenders and bring those responsible to justice."
The attack shocked the city, and prompted Westgate resident Paul Johnson, 39, to launch a fundraising page to help support Daniel's family - which has so far garnered more than £15,000.
On July 24, KentOnline reported how Mr Johnson visited Daniel in hospital, and was pleased to find he had woken from his coma and was able to recognise his family.
"Despite the fact that young Daniel is still bed bound and unable to talk, he has made a big improvement," he said.
"The first time I saw him he was almost lifeless.
"But still, the family are with him every day and all day, with their lives and jobs deeply affected."
On July 7, a 14-year old boy from Canterbury was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, and was taken into police custody. He was the eleventh, and youngest person to be arrested.
Three boys from Canterbury - aged 15, 16 and 17 - were also arrested in late June in connection with the assault.
Seven other arrests were made in the days following the attack, as part of the investigation. They included five more teenagers from Canterbury - two 15-year-old boys, a 16-year-old girl, and two boys aged 16 and 17.
A 17-year-old boy from Margate was also arrested, along with a 44-year-old man suspected of assisting an offender.
Daniel, the youngest of five brothers, had been in Canterbury on a graduation trip - arriving in the city just three days before the attack. He had been due to fly home the following day.
His mother, as a non-EU citizen, had to wait three days to fly to the UK to see her son because of visa issues eventually resolved by Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield and Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
Daniel's family are now staying in accommodation near his hospital in south-east London, paid for by Mr Johnson's fundraiser.
To donate to the fundraiser, click here
