Police in Iceland are investigating after a British schoolgirl was allegedly assaulted by a tour information whereas on a college journey to see the Northern Lights.
In a clip posted on social media, the Black teenager might be seen being slapped within the face and chased by a girl at Lodge Örk, Hveragerdi, in an incident on Friday night time.
The video shortly went viral, amassing hundreds of views on-line and sparking concern concerning the youngster’s well-being whereas she was on the four-day geography journey.
The kid, 13, might be heard telling the girl, who’s standing near her with a finger in her face, “Please don’t come close to me”.
The grownup is then seen slapping the woman who’s then seen working away and being chased by the identical girl in a second clip. The ladies’ college, Harris Ladies’ Academy, contacted Icelandic Police who attended the scene and interviewed the girl however no arrests have been made.
The woman’s mom, Priscilla, who didn’t need her surname used, informed The Impartial the incident occurred after her daughter spoke as much as defend her buddy after the girl shouted at her.
“I can’t sleep,” Priscilla stated, including that her daughter had returned to her south London residence on Saturday night feeling fully distraught.
“I really feel that there was a racial component to this as a result of the woman that the girl was initially shouting at was my daughter’s white buddy. My daughter politely requested her to step again and he or she slapped her.
“If my youngster had been white, I don’t suppose this might’ve occurred. The tour information didn’t slap my daughter’s buddy, who’s white, or make any try to hit however she felt comfy hitting my youngster.
“That’s the fact of life; Black individuals are not revered, valued or appreciated.”
{The teenager} informed The Impartial: “I’ve by no means confronted racism and by no means thought that I might expertise it, for the primary time in my life, on this journey.”
Priscilla continued: “My daughter is just not going to overlook this and I informed her ‘I’m sorry’ as a result of this isn’t the expertise I signed her up for. This isn’t the rationale why I allowed her to go on the varsity journey.
“My youngster is traumatised; she has her personal mattress however has been sleeping in mine ever since this occurred and is asking me to remain residence from work.”
“That’s the fact of life; Black individuals are not revered, valued or appreciated” – {the teenager}’s mom
(Screenshot)
In an e-mail from Icelandic Police to Priscilla, seen by The Impartialthe pressure stated it was investigating the incident and suggested the household they may put ahead a compensation declare.
Responding to a social media put up concerning the incident on Sunday, Harris Federation, which runs Harris Ladies’ Academy, confirmed that the grownup within the clip was not from the varsity.
“The youngsters are protected and okay, and we’ve reported the grownup to the police, who’re rightly taking it significantly. We share your disgust and are supporting the police investigation,” it added.
In a press release issued on Monday, Lodge Örk stated it condemned “all types of violence”.
“It’s essential to make clear that the tour information was not a resort worker; she was a visitor, staying at our premises, the identical as the coed. Following the incident, we instantly beneficial contacting the native authorities, which on this case was the Icelandic police,” the assertion reads.
“The police performed their investigation, and it’s normal apply in Iceland to not arrest people until the scenario is exceptionally violent or poses an ongoing menace.”
The Impartial has contacted the Harris Federation and the Icelandic Police for remark.
