The public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into an incident of 'senseless violence' after a 13-year-old girl was beaten up by several pupils of the same school in the municipality of Merksem in the Antwerp province.
The attack was filmed and then shared massively on social media. The girl filed a complaint with the police in the municipality of Brasschaat, and the school will take measures against the pupils involved.
On the videos going around on social media, the girl is shown being pushed into a corner and kicked and hit repeatedly by several pupils of the school. According to the girl's mother, it left her with bruised ribs, a concussion, bruised vertebrae and a bruised knee, and she no longer dares to go to school, reports Het Nieuwsblad.
School neemt maatregelen na overleg met ouders over pestincident. #atvnieuws #pesten #merksem https://t.co/L5xBixPBkI pic.twitter.com/wFbxt7O4zM
— atv.be (@atvbe) November 12, 2019
Translation of tweet: "School takes measures after consultation with parents about bullying incident."
"We are taking the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of our students," said Pamela Bruers of the school, adding that two students have been suspended preventively, reports Het Nieuwsblad. "We have initiated disciplinary proceedings, but we are still investigating the case. We want to do this very thoroughly and carefully. Depending on the seriousness of the matter, the measures can range from a temporary suspension to a final one," she added.
The victim will not be going back to school in the coming days, and is seeing a 'bullying coach'. "She is especially affected because everything was filmed, but almost no one came to help her. I would also like to talk to the class about the consequences of such behaviour", said Ellen Somers, reports VRT NWS.
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
