The Western Uusimaa Police reported on 17 December of an assault between school kids. The police have conducted investigation into the case as a criminal act, since both parties are under 15 years old.
The police have heard the parties involved and witnesses. According to their statements, the 10-year-old school kids (a girl and a boy) have had rows already earlier. After the school day they first had a row, which led to the incident in which the boy attacked the girl and pushed her over on the school yard. When falling down, the girl hit her head to the ground. The parties involved also said they both had hit and kicked each other. The girl's parents took her to a medical examination and she spent the night in hospital and was monitored.
The picture of the party involved shared on social media suggests that she had serious injuries due to the assault. The medical examination indicated however that she suffered no serious injuries and she was released from the hospital.
The police continue investigating the case in cooperation with the school and social workers. The school has informed the pupils and their parents of the case.
Since the parties involved are under 15 years of age, they are not held criminally liable and the case will not be forwarded to the prosecutor. Due to the sensitive nature of this case and protection of privacy, no more information will be given on the details of the incident.
Follow-up communication
On social media and the Internet, possible racist motives have been suggested for the assault that took place in a school in Northern Espoo on 17 December. No such motives have come up in the investigation by the police.
The parties are kids of about 10 years old. The acts targeted at children shall always be taken seriously. The incident has provoked strong emotional reactions in many places. Particularly on social media biased, faulty and even entirely false information on the incident may be spread.
The police act neutrally in the case, conduct criminal investigation into it and release information as provided in the Criminal Investigation Act.
