Criminal Investigation Launched After Assault on Three Minors in Pärnu
Three teenagers aged 15-16 were attacked by adult men in Pärnu, with one sustaining serious injuries including a concussion. Police have initiated an investigation.
A criminal investigation has been launched in Pärnu, Estonia, after three minors were assaulted by adult males, as reported by Pärnu Postimees. Around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, three youths aged 15-16 were walking home when they were attacked at the beginning of Lai Street by three intoxicated men in their 20s or 30s.
One of the teens was singled out for a particularly severe assault. The attackers allegedly tried to rip earrings from his ears, which one victim's parent described as an attempt to "change his identity right there on the spot." The youths were targeted due to their alternative appearance—they were dressed in punk-style attire. Although they managed to escape, the most seriously injured victim required medical attention and suffered a concussion and other injuries. The assailants also filmed the assault.
The victims and their families identified the suspects, who were known to them. Following the incident, a local instructor organized self-defense training courses for young people in the area. Parents say this is not the first such assault, and many go unreported due to fear of retaliation and having to face the perpetrators in court. At least one similar case from last summer that was reported remains unsolved, with some parents describing apathy on the part of local police.
