Exclusive:'We're shocked at how cruel youths can be' Mum speaks out after attack on Leeds schoolgirls goes viral
A mum has shared her heartbreak after two shocking clips of her daughters being attacked were shared widely online.
The videos of the sisters, who were on their way home from Cockburn John Charles Academy, show them being punched and kicked in the head while on the floor as they cover their faces.
Their mother, whose identity we have chosen to protect, shared the clips online after they were shown to her by another parent and they have since had over a million views. She has appealed for help and action from the school and police, saying: “We are shocked at how cruel these youths can be.”
The first attack happened on October 16 when the younger daughter, aged 13, was walking home on Old Run Road in Hunslet. The one and a half minute video clip shows her crying and telling the group that she is “scared” as she is attacked by a group of girls; who laugh as one of them urges another to “get your anger out”.
They then demand that she not tell the school what happened, warning that if she does they will “smash your face in”.
The second video clip is 30 seconds long and shows two girls attack the older sister, 15, with relentless punches to the head.
The mother shared the video clips online, saying she wanted to highlight “how cruel some youths have become”.
She said the incident happened on October 16: “After school a girl was walking home when a group of youths attacked and beat my daughter.
“I won’t allow her to go to school and she is strongly reluctant to attend, but then my other daughter, 15, on November 3, experienced the same thing as her sister.
“The situation for our family is terrible — we are shocked at how cruel these youths can be.”
A spokesperson for the Cockburn John Charles Academy said: “We are aware of the incident that happened in the community, the school is working with West Yorkshire Police, who are dealing with this incident and we are appropriately supporting all involved.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Police are investigating an assault which is reported to have occurred in Old Run Road, Hunslet, on Thursday, 16 October.
“The incident, in which the victim suffered minor injuries, is being investigated by the Leeds District Investigations Team.
“Officers are aware that footage appearing to relate to this incident is circulating on social media and are making further enquiries into the circumstances.”