Ten teenagers beat schoolboy in Frankfurt (Oder)
Several teenagers kicked and struck a schoolboy in front of a secondary school, leaving him requiring hospital treatment. Police are investigating ten suspects aged between 13 and 15.
Brutal attack on schoolboy documented
Tagesspiegel.de reports on a brutal assault on a schoolboy in Frankfurt (Oder). The attack occurred on Wednesday in front of a secondary school; several teenagers kicked and struck the victim to the ground. The boy sustained facial injuries and required medical treatment.
According to police, they are investigating ten suspects aged between 13 and 15 years. They are children and youths of German, Polish, Russian and Syrian nationality. They are accused of dangerous assault and robbery.
A video in police possession documents the attack. It shows approximately ten teenagers initially surrounding another boy, then striking and kicking him – including in the head. The violence continues even after the victim has fallen to the ground. Police have assessed the video as authentic.
Mayor expresses shock
The Mayor of Frankfurt (Oder), Axel Strasser (independent), responded to the incident with clear rejection. "What was done to a young person here in Frankfurt (Oder) leaves me speechless," he posted on Instagram. He called for children to be able to go to school and move freely without fear and violence.
Strasser emphasised that the city must not become accustomed to such images. He announced his intention to ensure that the responsible authorities draw the right conclusions. Police plan security discussions with the city, the education authority and other partners to discuss possible measures.
Part of a series of violent incidents
The incident is not an isolated case in Brandenburg. Interior Minister Jan Redmann (CDU) recently announced stricter consequences due to a series of violent incidents in Potsdam. Suspects with Syrian citizenship are to be returned to their country of origin if possible. Following these incidents, police established an investigation task force, and Potsdam created a youth violence task force.
In Cottbus, efforts to combat violence at schools showed partial success. Mayor Tobias Schick (SPD) reported a changed sense of security in school playgrounds through various measures – including additional prevention programmes, risk talks with families and strengthening of support services. Security personnel were deployed at particularly affected schools; some "delinquent children" were removed from mainstream schools and given separate schooling.
Source: BILD