Six boys set fires in Styria to attract attention with their videos on TikTok. But they also attracted the attention of the police – and were arrested. They now stood before the court in Graz – and seemed remorseful.
Four of the six youths arrived on time on Wednesday, with a 17-year-old taken from custody (“I broke into a safe”). The fifth defendant (20) staggered into the hearing room ten minutes late (“I’m here now”). And the main perpetrator (18) appeared – of course in heavy lighting – half an hour late anyway.
Judge: ‘You were full of destructive madness’
What was it about? At the beginning of this year the boys would have let off steam in Köflach (Voitsberg district). “You were full of destructive madness,” judge Raimund Frei summarizes. They threw a wooden cross onto a parked car from the third floor, hit a car with a fence post, toppled a bronze community statue and rioted at a school. There were also burglaries and several fires were set.
“Why are you doing this?” the chairman asks a 17-year-old. “We didn’t think about the consequences.” – “What are the consequences?” – “That we are sitting here!” – “And they have to pay for everything.” The damage caused by the fires is enormous.
“Why did you film that?” Frei wants to know. “For clicking on TikTok (an internet platform like Facebook, take note). We wanted the attention.” Then the judge bursts out: “What’s wrong with you? Please think for yourself. One click means zero. What could have happened!”
Now everyone would rather work
The boys, most of whom come from difficult family backgrounds, are remorseful. There would have been such a dynamic in the group. But now they want to get to work.
The sentences were deferred for two young people, the others got away with 80 and 60 hours of social work or suspended sentences of eight and ten months. The statements are not legally binding.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
