Purported paedophile attacked in Bremen after TV report
A 50-year-old man was severely beaten at his home in northwest Germany by a mob believing they recognized him from a television programme about paedophiles, police said on Thursday.
In what authorities called a case of "vigilante justice", the assailants will face charges of attempted murder.
The incident occurred on Tuesday after a television show was aired in which reporters attempt to contact suspected paedophiles via the internet.
The programme showed a man whose behaviour was deemed by the reporters to be suspicious.
After it was aired, local viewers thought they recognized the man and his address, went to his home and beat him savagely, leaving him critically injured.
The victim's life is no longer in danger and police said they had no reason to believe that he or anyone else from his block of flats was guilty of child abuse.
No suspects have been arrested and police asked the public for tips.
"The Bremen police stress that no one has the right to take justice into their own hands," they said in a statement.
"Vigilante justice is intolerable. It is the task of prosecutors and the police to investigate crimes."
Comments
See Also
In what authorities called a case of "vigilante justice", the assailants will face charges of attempted murder.
The incident occurred on Tuesday after a television show was aired in which reporters attempt to contact suspected paedophiles via the internet.
The programme showed a man whose behaviour was deemed by the reporters to be suspicious.
After it was aired, local viewers thought they recognized the man and his address, went to his home and beat him savagely, leaving him critically injured.
The victim's life is no longer in danger and police said they had no reason to believe that he or anyone else from his block of flats was guilty of child abuse.
No suspects have been arrested and police asked the public for tips.
"The Bremen police stress that no one has the right to take justice into their own hands," they said in a statement.
"Vigilante justice is intolerable. It is the task of prosecutors and the police to investigate crimes."
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.