Rotterdam teens held for assaulting lesbian couple

The police arrested a total of five teenagers, four girls and a boy, for at least two separate assaults on the Schouwburgplein in Rotterdam last week. The group of teens, 13, 14 and 15 years old, attacked a lesbian couple on Tuesday May 30th and another victim the following day, the police said in a statement.

The lesbian couple went to a movie together and were walking hand-in-hand on Schouwburgplein around 7:40 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30th when the group of teenagers started making remarks about their sexuality. One girl physically attacked the couple, upon which a young boy intervened.

The couple reported what happened to the police and an investigation was immediately launched. A few days later, after a call for witnesses, another girl came forward to report being attacked by a group of teenage girls. This attack also happened on the Schouwburgplein, the night after the couple was assaulted. As far as can be determined, this assault had nothing to do with the victim's sexual orientation.

On Tuesday a 14-year-old Rotterdam girl turned herself in at the police station for involvement in the assaults. Later on Tuesday a 15-year-old girl from Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel also turned herself in. On Wednesday a 13-year-old girl from Rotterdam reported to a police station with a family member after the police contacted her. And a boy and girl, both aged 14 and both from Rotterdam, were arrested at other locations.

All five teenagers are in custody for further investigation.