HE told five youths picking on some teens not to create trouble and ended up being slashed with a samurai sword.

The financial sector worker, who wanted to be known only as John, needed 13 stitches for his wound.

A passer-by who tried to help him was also attacked, John claimed.

The incident happened at the Citylink Mall underpass near the Esplanade on Saturday night.

John, 28, said he and his dance group - which has 11 members - often practise their dance moves in the underpass.

But only John and two others could make it that Saturday.

John said they arrived at 8.30pm and saw five boys in their late teens kicking things at some younger teens whom he knew because they often share the space.

He approached the group and realised some of them reeked of alcohol.

Realising they were probably drunk, he told them not to create trouble.

They left without saying a word.

The trio started practising and noticed the five youths again around 9.30pm. They were with other youths, some of whom looked older.

They stayed near the escalator and watched the dancers practise.

Feeling uncomfortable and sensing trouble, John and his friends decided to leave at 10.45pm.

As they were packing up, five people in the group suddenly ran towards them.

'From the way they ran towards us, I knew they were going to attack us,' John said.

He and another friend ran towards them and he hit one of them in self-defence. John claimed they had moved towards the group to take the fight away from about 20 youths in the underpass.

In the ensuing scuffle, John realised there were more than five attackers. He estimated there were about 15 of them.

He also realised some of them were carrying samurai swords with metre-long blades.

One attacker swung a sword at his head but John managed to duck. But the next swipe slashed his left thigh.

John ran to a more crowded area in Citylink Mall and his attacker did not give chase.

He realised he was bleeding badly.

His other friend managed to flee his attackers by running past the Padang to Mohammed Sultan Road, John claimed.

The friend who remained at the underpass was not attacked.

SERIOUSLY INJURED

John claimed a passer-by who tried to help was also attacked.

He claimed the alleged attackers grabbed him and pulled his hair, while another slashed him on his chest, right arm and right leg.

Some passers-by helped to bandage John's wound while waiting for the police and paramedics to arrive.

He was taken to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he was warded for a day.

The passer-by was more seriously injured and is still in SGH, John claimed. He managed to speak to him when they were in the ambulance together and is grateful he had tried to help.

John said: 'I've heard about fights at the underpass but this is the first time I saw attackers with weapons like samurai swords.'

He said security personnel do patrol the area, but felt security should be stepped up.

'They should install more CCTVs.

'At present, there is only one, near the escalator.'

The New Paper tried to contact Citylink Mall about security in the area, but they were unable to comment.

Police confirmed that two men were injured and are investigating.

Four youths in their late teens have been arrested for rioting with dangerous weapons.

This article was first published in The New Paper on July 2, 2008.