If that is true one has to wonder why the title of the story and its main focus is on their Asian descent/affiliation and the victims being white. No mention of motivation for the attacks is in the article. Motivation is usually a prime piece of information in both the courts and the press.
Racial abuse was shouted and a weapon was used by someone. There was no specific evidence that any of the three individuals used the weapon or shouted the abuse. But, as they were part of a mob of 30, it would be unsuprising if witnesses couldn’t pick out indivduals to tie to specific actions.
It’s fairly irrelevant as there was obviously enough evidence to convict each of them of attempted murder.