VICTIMS of a “happy slap” gang came forward last night after footage was shown on television of 14 attacks filmed on a mobile phone since seized by police investigating the killing of a teenager.

Scotland Yard released pictures taken from the phone to encourage witnesses to come forward. The footage includes clips of a woman being knocked off her bicycle, a man being punched in the face, another being kicked in the face and several victims being slapped. Detectives believe that they can identify some of the attackers, but the Crown Prosecution Service had demanded more evidence before charges could be brought.

Two of the victims had been out in Central London and were walking through New Cross High Street when they were approached by a group of teenagers.

Speaking to The Times, one of them, a 30-year-old IT worker called Toby, who wanted to give only his first name, said: “We were walking up the road when we were surrounded. I didn’t really think anything about it until one of them did a kung-fu-type kick to my head and I went over. I was a bit stunned and had cuts and bruises, but not really injured.”

His friend, Karl, 31, a researcher, added: “It was only when I saw the story on television and realised some of the footage was of our attack that it dawned on me that it could of been far more serious.”

The phone was taken from a teenager during investigations into the death of Triston Christmas, 18, who was killed in January last year by Gary Roper, a school friend. A video phone message of that attack in Romford, East London, was taken by one of a crowd of teenagers. It was passed round computers and phones at Mr Christmas’s school. Roper, 18, from Ilford, punched Mr Christmas, who fell and hit his head on a concrete floor . He died a week later. Roper was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 2½ years.

Detective Chief Inspector Ellie O’Connor, who is investigating the filmed attacks, said: “Every phone incident captured is incredibly violent. There is nothing amusing about the attacks, and every victim is visibly distressed. We are keen to trace each victim to ensure that those responsible do not go unpunished.”

The attacks are thought to have taken place in North or East London, and police want to talk to anyone who recognises the locations. The attackers were wearing hooded sweatshirts, but the clips have sound. Police believe that they can identify some of the voices.

The first clip shows teenagers hiding behind parked cars. When a woman on a bike appears, one of the youngsters jumps out and strikes her. She falls over the handlebars. In another clip, a man is encouraged to walk towards the phone. As he approaches, he is punched in the face.

A third incident involves a man in his twenties being asked to place his hands behind his back. As he complies, a teenager slaps him across the face.

In another sequence, youths taunt and mug a young man outside a block of flats. When they have taken his possessions, they slap him and leave the scene laughing.

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