Three teenagers arrested over Grand Theft Auto V stabbing and robbery

 
18 September 2013
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Three teenagers have been arrested after a man was stabbed and robbed for his copy of Grand Theft Auto V moments after buying the computer game.

The 23-year-old victim was attacked after leaving an Asda store in Colindale in the early hours yesterday. Stores across the country opened their doors at midnight for the worldwide release of the game — one of the biggest launches the industry has seen.

Detectives are questioning the three youths — aged 15, 17 and 18 — at a north London police station on suspicion of robbery.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The motive for the attack is unclear at this stage.”

The victim was targeted after he left the Asda store an hour and 20 minutes after the game went on sale.

He was hit with a brick, stabbed and stripped of his mobile phone, watch and his copy of Grand Theft Auto V during the attack in Princes Avenue at about 1.20am.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The victim had been shopping and was on his way home when he was hit with a brick. He was then stabbed and robbed.”

The man is in hospital where he is said to be in a stable condition.

Teachers have condemned Grand Theft Auto V, which is the latest in a series of games notorious for their violent content.

The new version — which is expected to smash sales records by shifting 25  million copies in its first year and generating £1 billion for developer Rockstar — features scenes where gamers carry out gruesome torture techniques.

These include players being instructed to pull out their victim’s teeth with a pair of pliers.

Gamers can also perform a water boarding-type torture by pouring a flammable liquid over a person tied to a chair. They then smash the victim’s kneecap with a monkey wrench and give him electric shocks using spark plugs.

Grand Theft Auto V carries an 18  rating.

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