Shocking and scandalous images, but which seem to be becoming commonplace, were filmed in the commune of Lierre in the province of Antwerp. A student from the Athénée Arthur Vanderpoorten was attacked by several young people – coming from another school – when leaving the building.
But beyond the fight, it is the behavior of the other students that raises questions: instead of intervening, some preferred to film the scene while others were laughing when they saw the teenager being hit. .
Beating up to film and create buzz on the networks: “happy slapping”, this scourge that the Belgian Penal Code does not mention
To Het Laatste Nieuws, his mother testified: “They came and asked him his name as he left school. After he gave them… bam.” The mother, who saw the images on the internet – “It’s not good for my mother’s heart” –, thinks it’s revenge. His son and one of his friends allegedly had an argument with a girl and one of them pushed her.
Not a unique case in the municipality
Fortunately, the young boy did not have any serious injuries, but “he feels humiliated and during this Saturday, he was not in the mood for his sporting activity. When I came home, the door was locked, which he never does. He prefers not to talk about it.”
Beyond this fight, the student’s mother – who prefers to remain anonymous – believes that this type of incident is increasing in the town of Lierre: “Six months ago, a friend’s son was also beaten by a group of young people. This is taken too lightly, I’ve had enough. The management of the atheneum was very understanding, but also asked that the images not be broadcast. But I don’t want the matter to be hushed up.”
The phenomenon of “happy slapping” is frightening: “Our society generates a cruelty that did not exist at this level before”
The police have opened an investigation and are trying to identify the people involved based on the images. “It’s a trend that comes from big cities and we have a lot of schools in Lier. It is therefore not a unique case, but it is exceptional that such a large number of people are involved,” say the authorities.
