Man in his seventies attacked with catapult in Cranbrook as suspect arrested
Kent Police have arrested a suspect after a group of youths allegedly fired catapults at a pensioner on Waterloo Road in Cranbrook, leaving him requiring hospital treatment.
Kent Police announced the arrest via social media, stating that a suspect had been detained following an investigation into an alleged assault involving a catapult on a pensioner in Cranbrook. The force did not confirm the specific offence or offences under consideration, and no charging decision has been publicly verified.
Officers were called to Waterloo Road in Cranbrook at around 18:30 on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, after reports that a group of youths armed with catapults were deliberately targeting a man in his seventies. Officers spoke to the victim at the scene. He afterwards attended a local hospital for treatment to injuries that included at least one arm injury.
The suspects were described as five teenagers, believed to be between 16 and 18 years old, who fled in the direction of The Hill — the area of Cranbrook locally known as The Crane — after the alleged attack, according to reporting by the BBC and local media.
Following the incident, Kent Police issued a public appeal for witnesses, CCTV footage and information about the identities of those involved. The force directed residents to contact Crimestoppers anonymously if they were unwilling to speak to officers directly.
Catapults are not illegal to own in the UK, but they can be classed as offensive weapons if carried in public without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, or if used to cause injury or threaten people. Kent Police have previously stated that the force receives around 14 catapult-related reports per day across the county, a figure also cited by the MP for Dartford. In a previous case in Ashford, a 17-year-old was charged with assault, possession of an offensive weapon and killing a wild bird using a catapult.
Key information
- Anyone with information about the Cranbrook incident can contact Kent Police directly or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
- Anyone with CCTV footage relevant to the incident is asked to retain it and share it with Kent Police.
Source: @kent_police
Published: 23 July 2026