Police reject racist motive in Espoo student assault

The police on Thursday rejected any racist motive behind the assault on a school girl by a boy of the same school in northern Espoo on 17 December.

The Western Uusimaa police said possible racist motives have been suggested on social media and the Internet behind the assault but no such motives have been found in the investigation conducted by the police, said a press release.

The police said they have conducted investigation into the case as a criminal act, since both parties are less than 15 years old.

The police have heard witnesses and the parties involved. 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 for a medical examination and she spent the night in hospital and was monitored.

The police are continuing with investigating the case in cooperation with the school and social workers. The school has informed the students 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 the case and protection of privacy, the police did not divulge details in this regard.