Men sought for pelting family with fireworks; beating father unconscious

A 49-year-old man was seriously injured when three young men beat him up after allegedly throwing fireworks at the victim and his family early on New Year’s Day. “The man has sustained considerable injuries to his head,” police said in a statement. He was admitted to an area hospital.

It all started at about 2 a.m. when the man was walking with his wife and two teenaged children on Van Nispenlaan in Bemmel, Gelderland, police said in a statement. The suspects were lighting fireworks there, and at one point they threw fireworks towards the family, the report stated.

“The man made a remark about it, and was immediately badly beaten.” He was repeatedly struck in the head and was left unconscious.

All three suspects fled on the bike path towards the Overbetuwe College. One of them was wearing an orange coat or cardigan. Police said they were possibly darker skinned, but gave no further details on the suspects’ descriptions.

Witnesses were still sought in the case as of noon on Monday.