13-year-old victim of brutal school attack: Where is the protection?

13-year-old victim of brutal school attack: Where is the protection?

In a shocking incident, a 13-year-old student was the victim of massive violence from his classmates at his school. According to reports from exxpress.at There were repeated insults and physical attacks. The perpetrators, including a 15-year-old, called the boy a “stupid German” and accused him of saying his snack was “not halal”. A video documents how five teenagers beat and kicked the boy.

The violence escalated in class, where the 15-year-old punched the boy in the face. A teacher was able to intervene at that moment and end the argument. As a result of the attacks, the victim suffered a bruised jaw and a concussion. His mental state has now become so impaired that he has had to undergo psychological treatment and is very afraid of going to school, a circumstance that greatly concerns the boy's mother. She expresses her shock at the fact that there were no noticeable consequences for the perpetrators.

Lack of consequences and social ignorance

The family's lawyer also makes serious allegations against the school's director, who appears to be hiding behind data protection laws and statements about "zero tolerance" for bullying. This “zero tolerance” is criticized by the victim’s mother as an empty phrase. The case against the 15-year-old main perpetrator was dropped, while the other attackers are of legal age.

The 13-year-old's case is by no means an isolated one. According to a recent study of violence and bullying in schools, many teachers were found to be inadequately prepared to respond appropriately to such incidents. The study, which involved more than 2,000 students and 550 teachers in Germany, shows that there is not only a lack of knowledge and empathy, but also a lack of action strategies and intervention skills. This research also documents the importance of implementing effective anti-bullying measures to protect students' mental health.

Bullying and its consequences

Bullying is defined as a form of violence that is carried out repeatedly and with the intent to harm others. It poses a serious health risk to children and adolescents. According to an analysis of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study, approximately 14% of learners surveyed reported experiences of bullying, indicating the prevalence of this problem. Gender-diverse young people in particular reported frequent bullying experiences, which underlines the need for targeted support measures.

The incident with the 13-year-old is symptomatic of a worrying trend of children becoming targets of bullying because of their background or individual differences. Professor David Betz describes this development as a “downgrading” of the majority society in Europe. It warns that a society that remains silent for fear of conflict could be left in violence and division, which is why quick action is needed to protect children from such attacks.