AN engagement party erupted into a giant brawl when guests of the bride and groom attacked one another on the dance floor with swords, metal bats and hoes in Kandal province on Saturday night, seriously injuring 13 people.

Seung Sengly, director of the Ponhea Leu district minor crimes unit, said yesterday that 31 people had been detained after a “huge fight” broke out at the party in Phnom Bat commune

“They used metal bats, wooden bats, hoes, rocks and two swords to attack [each other] in the fighting ... most of the victims live in the village,” he said. “A total of 13 guests of the bride were seriously injured at the scene. Police intervened and arrested 31 guests of the groom for intentionally using violence.”

The clashes broke out when 40 guests of the groom arrived at the party and began arguing with guests of the bride while dancing, he said. Police were having difficulty establishing how many people to arrest because so many of the guests joined in the brawl, he added.  

Sem Sophal, Phnom Bat commune chief, said yesterday everyone had seemed happy before the fighting broke out. The injured are recovering in hospital.