A 14-year-old in Belgium was allegedly kept hostage in the woods and gang-raped multiple times by ten of her boyfriend’s friends. The youngest suspect is aged 11.
A disturbing case of sexual assault has come to the fore in Belgium where a 14-year-old was allegedly kept hostage in the woods and gang-raped multiple times by ten of her boyfriend’s friends– all minors, aged between 11 and 16.
As per a report by the Brussels Times, the teenage girl was lured in to a forest area by her boyfriend where she was reportedly held hostage for at least two days and sexually abused by 10 of his friends on up to three occasions between April 2 and April 6 over the Easter holidays. The youngest of alleged abusers is 11-years-old, it said.
The victim, whose name has not been disclosed to protect her privacy, was lured into a forested area known as Kabouterbos in Kortrijk, West Flanders, around five miles from the French border, by her teenage boyfriend over the school holidays during Easter.
Citing sources, Belgian media reported that the 14-year-old was kept hostage in the woods for at least two days and gang-raped by her boyfriend’s friends on multiple occasions. The accused boys also filmed the assault and posted the clips on social media sites, triggering widespread outrage in the country.
According to Nieuwsblad– a Belgian news outlet, the accused took turns to sexuall abuse the victim and all participated in the assault participated ”to a greater or lesser extent”, adding that the suspects are ”believed to be young people of immigrant origin”.
Authorities said six of the accused have been placed in a closed institution, while the other four are placed under house arrest.
“The youngest suspect is 11 years old. As the suspects are so young, we are not releasing much information. However, they have all been identified and arrested and measures have been taken by the juvenile court,” VRT News quoted Tom Janssens of the West Flemish public prosecutor’s office as saying.
Meanwhile, the victim is receiving specialist guidance and counselling following her nightmarish ordeal.
“Our attention is now going first and foremost to the victim. She is receiving counselling,” Janssens said.
Police has launched an investigation in the case to determine the extent of participation of the girl’s sexual abuse by each suspect, officials said.
