Teen swarming attack caught on camera in Kitchener, Ont.

A video showing a swarm of teens attacking a student is circulating in Waterloo Region. CTV’s Karis Mapp reports.

A shocking video has been circulating online of a swarming incident involving teens in Kitchener, Ont.

It showed at least 10 high school students surrounding a person lying on the ground, curled up in a ball as they are repeatedly punched and kicked, while others stand by and record the attack on their phones. At the end of the video, one person rushed in and threw their body over the victim to protect them from further violence.

According to the Waterloo Regional Police Service, the attack happened around 3:30 p.m. on Friday at a plaza on Block Line Road, beside St. Mary’s High School.

Students from the Catholic secondary school told CTV News it was a fight between a St. Mary’s student and teens from another school in the region.

One student, who claimed he was the victim in the video, said he was involved in another fight in that same plaza. It was that altercation, he explained, that lead to Friday’s swarming attack.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board shared the following statement:

Students said the person who came to the victim’s rescue was a customer at a nearby business.

CTV News was told by both teens and parents that fights often happen in the area.

One parent said she attempted to warn the principal at St. Mary’s but claimed she was told that nothing could be done because the fights happen off school property.

The security company that monitors the plaza told CTV News they were not aware of a fight on Friday, while businesses said they heard a commotion but didn’t think anything of it as they are used to big groups of rowdy teens.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service said they continue to investigate the attack.