A young man taken to hospital after an incident in Coatbridge is believed to have been attacked by a group of youths.
Local sources have said the victim is aged 13 and was left in a serious condition when he was set upon near the town’s Sunnyside railway station.
Police said they were called after the boy was found “unconscious”.
The boy, who is believed to be a pupil at nearby St Ambrose High School, is described as being in a “critical” condition by police sources.
A massive cordon has been thrown around the area which centres on Gartsherrie Road at Lamberton’s Engineering.
ScotRail were forced to stop services at the station as there was no access for passengers due to the police cordon.
A local businessman said: “At about 4.30pm there were three males who attacked a 13-year-old boy.
“They quite severely beat him up.
“They were older than the boy, maybe 16 or 17.
“I’ve heard this from onlookers and some of the staff from the train who were clearing up at the time.
“The boys had just come off the train.
“They had to close everything off because his condition is quite serious.
“I think he was just finishing school.”
The incident happened at around 4.20pm this afternoon.
Asked about the details of the incident, police declined to comment on reports that the boy had been attacked.
A spokeswoman said: “At about 4.20pm police received a report of a young man being found unconscious in Gartsherrie Road in Coatbridge.
“He was taken to hospital and enquiries are ongoing.”
