Five men have been sentenced to a total of 16 years and 10 months in prison for a serious assault outside Bristol Airport. The incident, which occurred on February 21, involved the men crashing into two victims with a vehicle and then assaulting them with bats.
Vladamir Stan, 52, Able Marin, 21, Florin Stan, 28, Constantin Stan, 29, and Emanuel-Ronaldo Dumitru, 27, all pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Bristol Crown Court on August 28.
Witnesses at the time perceived the attack as an "act of terror," according to Detective Constable Charlotte Couch of Avon and Somerset Police. "We understand the immense fear this incident caused, with witnesses believing at the time this was an active act of terror," Couch stated.
Detective Constable Ryan Hurt described the assault as a "serious incident that was targeted and planned, occurring during a Saturday morning at an airport with no thought for anyone else including members of the public."
The victims sustained injuries during the attack. The 21-year-old victim suffered cuts and bruises to his face and body, while the 37-year-old victim sustained knife wounds. Police confirmed the incident was planned and carried out without regard for public safety at a busy airport location.