Three minors arrested after filmed assault in Bovenkarspel playground
Three minor boys were arrested after a filmed assault in a playground in Bovenkarspel, Noord-Holland, where a victim was forced to his knees and made to apologize before being beaten. The case is being linked by police to the Snapchat-based violence trend known as “jumpen,” which authorities say is part of a broader pattern of similar incidents across the Netherlands, including earlier arrests of teenagers in separate assaults, NU.nl reports.
Police said the incident took place on Thursday around 9:30 p.m. at a playground along the Spoorsingel in Bovenkarspel. The assault was carried out by one 15-year-old boy and two 16-year-old boys, all from Drechterland. According to authorities, the group forced the victim to kneel and apologize before the beating was filmed and later shared.
A police spokesperson said, “Certain information we are not releasing yet because we still need to question the youths.” The victim's age has not been disclosed.
After the assault, the group left the scene by bicycle, heading toward the Streekhof shopping center. The suspects were arrested overnight Thursday into Friday “in and near the shopping center,” according to police. They remain in custody and were scheduled to be questioned on Friday. Police did not rule out additional arrests, saying the assault involved “multiple minors,” though the total number of suspects has not been confirmed. Authorities said they cannot yet provide full details of what led to the attack.
Police indicated that the violence seems linked to a Snapchat trend known as "jumpen," where group chats select young people for sudden assaults. The attacks are filmed and distributed through Snapchat. Recently, similar incidents have been reported nationwide.
In one earlier case, five teenagers aged 12 to 15 were arrested for attempted manslaughter and assault in connection with similar attacks. Police described the series of incidents as “concerning” and said it is “terrible that suspects in this way instill fear, humiliate, and assault victims.”
Authorities urged parents and caregivers to talk to their children about the violence. They advised having those conversations “at a calm and informal moment” and to explain what children can do if they become victims or witnesses.
Additional reporting on the same pattern noted that local officers in Lansingerland, near Rotterdam, raised alarms last month, describing it as a national phenomenon. A police spokesperson in Rotterdam said, “Children are being singled out to suddenly receive blows or have their hair pulled. That can have an enormous impact.”
They added, “It happens to children when they are on their way to school or at sports locations. These assaults are then filmed and shared in group chats or other social media channels.”
Police also warned parents: "Don't take your child aside, as that can cause them to shut down," and "Explain the victim's consequences."
Authorities emphasized that coercing children into participation under threat of becoming victims themselves is not normal behavior. “If your child is being forced into something to avoid being a victim, they can get help from the police.”
