5 teens arrested after fatal attack

6 December 2010, 12:45

Five teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a Polish man.

Pawel Jozef Smiertka (dob 17/3/67), was assaulted at about 6.40pm on Friday the 26 November in Commercial Road, Bedford. He was beaten and kicked in the head whilst on the ground by a group of men. The attack occurred close to the junction of Commercial Road with Costin Street and some of the offenders fled up this road.

Mr Smiertka died at Addensbrooks Hospital on Thursday December 2nd.

A post mortem showed he had died of head injuries.

Police have contacted his wife and children, in Austria, and his sister in Poland.

The five teenagers, all from central Bedford, were arrested by the Beds and Herts Major Crime Unit this morning (Monday December 6th).