WARNING: This post contains footage of violence.
Police have charged four teenagers in the brutal attack and robbery of a 15-year old girl. Video of the incident, which occurred on February 15, was shared on social media. In it, a gang of five teens chases the unidentified victim down a street in the Bentley Park region of Queensland, Australia. One of the teens can be heard shouting, “Grab her!”
The teens, who police claim filmed the attack themselves, can be seen knocking the young girl down. One youth begins repeatedly punching and kicking the victim while she’s on the ground. The assailant then tells a bystander, “Grab this money,” while handing over what appears to be stolen change.
The full video shows the attackers arguing over who’s “turn” it is to hit the girl, according to the Daily Mail. The outlet reports the victim can be heard pleading with her attackers and offering them money. “I give you money! I’ll go home right now and give you money! I don’t care, please.”
Queensland police arrested four suspects on Monday after the footage made the rounds on social media. “The assault is really quite horrendous,” Queensland Police Inspector Jason Smith said at a press conference. “It does make it disturbing [that they recorded it], because it suggests these people are proud of what they’ve done.”
Smith continued, “There’s nothing to be proud of in this.”
A History of Criminal Behavior
Three girls — ages, 13, 15 and 16 — were charged with assault occasioning bodily harm in company. The older two teens face charges of stealing, according to a statement from Queensland Police. Meanwhile, police charged a 13-year old boy with making and distributing child exploitation material. The 16-year old girl is also being charged with distribution.
Two of the teens arrested in the brawl have had prior run-ins with the law. The 16-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy are being charged in connection with “a number of additional offenses, including the alleged theft of cars from a community health center,” according to a police statement. The girl faces charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and wilful damage, while the boy is charged with entering premises and committing an indictable offense, receiving tainted property and willful damage by graffiti.
Police say that the victim was hospitalized for treatment of multiple bruises, and that the investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, the four cars stolen from the community health center have all been recovered.
Four Teens Arrested in Assault, Robbery of 15-Year-Old Girl — Sources
7 News – “Queensland children charged over alleged bashing, robbery of 15-year-old girl”
Daily Mail – “Three teenage girls are charged over vicious brawl and robbery of a schoolgirl after shocking video was posted online”
Daily Mail – “Gang record horrific attack on young woman in Cairns”
Queensland Police – Assault and robbery, Bentley Park (Cairns)