What started as a pleasant summer evening for a group of young people from Emmen ended in a violent nightmare. In the night of 4 to 5 August, 17-year-old Dylan was brutally mistreated by a group of young men. The attack took place at the shopping center of the Emmer district of Angelslo, near the Landschapslaan.
Dylan and his friends cycled home a week and a half ago after a visit to cycling event De Gouden Pijl in the center of Emmen. They were overtaken by a group of young men on Fatbikes, who started to scold them. The men kicked the bikes and called all kinds of threats. Dylan and his friends asked to ‘do it normally’ after which the road was continued.
Not much later they were again confronted with the same group, this time near the shopping center. Dylan was kicked off his bike and heavily mistreated on the floor. “He was attacked, beaten and kicked by three to four men while he lay on the floor. One or more of his attackers hit him with a chain and rods. The only thing he could do was protect his head.
Dylan’s friends had to flee for their own safety. Some hid in one of the surrounding gardens, others drove away in a panic. Dylan was left alone, defenseless on the floor. Only after a while did the perpetrators leave him alone, after which he could bring himself to safety.
Dylan ran out bruises, bruises, a bruised jaw and scrapes. In the meantime, the physical injuries have largely healed, but he is not yet mentally beyond the blow. He says he is poorly sleeping. He would rather leave the story to his brother Bryan and father Harold Wanningen.
Both say they are very shocked. “I was called by Friends of Dylan. So I go that way and I find everyone in shock.” I saw Dylan sitting with an empty look. He never blinked with his eyes. “It was intense to see, he says.” Those guys have no harm in the sentence and then this happens: my brother is wronged. “
Full of adrenaline, Bryan comes home with Dylan, where father Harold is waiting for them. “I was full of adrenaline and nothing came from sleeping. So I decided to write everything off from me. I suggested sharing Dylan and my father for the story and photos of Dylan’s injuries on Facebook,” says Bryan. No sooner said than done.