Minor arrested for transphobic attack against trans women in Palermo Woods
An adolescent was arrested as a suspect in the violent attack against trans women that occurred in Palermo Woods on 2 November. The investigation continues to identify the remaining responsible parties.
Adolescent detained for transphobic assault in Palermo: investigating additional suspects
A minor was detained on Wednesday as an alleged participant in the attack perpetrated against trans women in Palermo Woods, according to pagina12.com.ar. The incident, recorded on video and distributed on social media, generated strong condemnation from the LGBTQ+ community and resulted in a complaint filed with the Ombudsman's Office.
The Criminal, Contravention and Minor Offences Prosecutor's Office Number 13, specialised in discrimination cases and headed by prosecutor Andrea Scanga, together with the Judicial Investigation Body (CIJ) of the City Public Prosecutor's Office, managed to identify the suspect and carry out his arrest.
The investigation had been initiated ex officio by the prosecutor's office after learning of the incident through news articles and social media publications. The detainee is charged with the crime of "aggravated bodily harm committed out of hatred based on gender identity".
Investigation methodology
The arrest was achieved through joint work by various units of the CIJ and the Public Prosecutor's Office. Investigators conducted forensic medical evaluations of the victims at the prosecutor's office, where minor injuries were confirmed. They then analysed the social media profiles that had shared images of the assaults, identified their users, traced digital wallets and digital platforms to verify ownership of telephone lines, registered services and billing addresses, and reviewed security camera footage.
From this work, seven profiles of interest were identified, two of them corresponding to minors, and seven addresses located in different municipalities in Buenos Aires Province were located. With these elements, the prosecutor's office requested search warrants: the arrest of one of the suspects was carried out and several electronic devices were seized, which will be examined by experts. There are other outstanding arrest warrants and the investigation continues.
The attack on 2 November
The assault took place in the early hours of 2 November, in the area of Avenida de los Ombúes and Andrés Bello, metres from Figueroa Alcorta and Lago de Regatas. A group of between 50 and 60 young people attacked trans women—mostly sex workers—with sticks, stones, branches and other blunt objects, leaving six people with minor injuries. The assailants themselves filmed and distributed the attack on their social media, accompanied by transphobic insults.
The assault provoked condemnation from organisations, representatives of the LGBTQ+ community and artists.
Source: Google News AR — Crime