Yesterday at 5:36 PM • Edited yesterday at 6:13 PM
A young victim was injured on Tuesday during an assault near Sportpark de Beemd in Helmond. The violence was filmed by several young people. A 14-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy have been arrested for involvement in the violence. The police have not ruled out that more arrests will follow.
The young victim was assaulted on Tuesday, June 9, around four o’clock in the afternoon near the sports park. According to the police, there appears to have been no direct reason for the violence. The victim, whose exact age is not shared, was injured.
The senseless violence was filmed by several young people. Later in the day, police visited two homes to confiscate phones. During a home visit, a 14-year-old boy behaved aggressively towards the police. He also disabled his phone. It is not clear what exactly that means.
Young people still stuck
Officers arrested the boy for obstructing and hindering the investigation. It later became clear that he had a role in the violence. A 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were also arrested a day later.
The young people are still in custody for investigation, which is still in progress. The police have not ruled out that several arrests will follow. The police emphasize on social media that they are taking tough action against this type of violence.
Why do young people film violence?
Filming violence and bullying can have many reasons. Patricia Bolwerk of the Stop Bullying Now Foundation told Omroep Brabant last year that she often sees multiple causes. For bullies, filming sometimes works as a show of power: they show what they can do to someone and use the images as a warning to others. In addition, it serves as ‘proof’ of their behavior, allowing them to gain status within the group.
Often it is not only the bullies themselves who film, but also bystanders or followers. They sometimes film to protect themselves, because then they are less likely to become targets. At the same time, they hope to gain popularity by sharing the images. It is extra painful for victims that the images circulate online; it feels humiliating and increases the impact of the bullying.
