Police have arrested and charged a teenager after a 12-year-old girl was viciously attacked outside an Auckland McDonald's on Saturday.
The 12-year-old girl was at McDonald's Glenfield, on the North Shore of Auckland, with three of her classmates when two girls at another table "mistakenly" believed they were being laughed at.
"Even after my sister apologised, the girl proceeded to physically attack her. They kicked her in the leg, pinned her to the ground, and repeatedly kicked her in the face and forehead, causing her to bleed," the girls' sister Rein Crystal told Stuff.
Images from the aftermath of the attack showed the victim, who'd recently moved to New Zealand from the Philippines with her family, covered in blood.
In an update on Tuesday morning, police confirmed a 14-year-old girl has been charged with the vicious attack.
She will appear in the North Shore District Court on Tuesday charged with injures with intent to injure.
"We again acknowledge how upsetting this incident was for the victim and the community, however as this matter is now before the Court, Police are limited in further comment," police said.
Speaking about the attack, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told AM on Tuesday it was "utterly unacceptable".
"I can say, as a parent, like every parent who sees that photo, they will be heartbroken by that and appalled by it - I think everybody is and everybody should be," Hipkins told Laura Tupou during his weekly interview with AM.
He said it was important appropriate action was taken to hold whoever was responsible to account.
"Politicians don't make those decisions. Ultimately, the police make those decisions."
Hipkins said he backed the police to respond to the attack accordingly.
"This is an abhorrent situation," he added.
