Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the sickening gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in a wooded area in Belgium who is thought to have been abused by up to a dozen other minors.
The girl, who remains unidentified for privacy reasons, was allegedly lured into a wooded area called Kabouterbos in Kortrijk, West Flanders, by her teenage boyfriend over the Easter school break.
Upon enticing her into the forest, close to an area used by mountain bikers, the boyfriend is said to have attacked his young partner before allegedly allowing several other boys to have their way with her.
Prosecutors confirmed they had arrested the suspected perpetrators and hauled them in for questioning, though would not specify the exact number of suspects or confirm their ages.
But sources told Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad there were up to a dozen suspects involved, the youngest of which is scarcely 12 years old, and the oldest of which is just 16.
The investigation has been conducted in the utmost secrecy by the West Flanders prosecutor’s office to avoid any chance of family members of the victim or members of the public learning the identities of those involved.
But Nieuwsblad reported prosecutors turned up ‘reprehensible behaviour’ on the part of the suspects and ‘revenge-mongering facts’, citing sources close to the investigation who said the alleged perpetrators showed ‘a complete lack of sense of norms’.
The girl is thought to have spent two days in the forest where she was tormented and abused by the gang of minors.
The criminal age of responsibility in Belgium is 18, meaning the suspected sexual abusers were sent before a juvenile judge and are likely to have been placed into a personal rehabilitation programme in youth facilities.
But it is possible the 16-year-old in question could be dealt with under adult criminal law, given the exceptional nature of the case.
It is not clear whether each suspect was equally guilty or to what extent they participated in the abuse.
The victim meanwhile is receiving specialist guidance following her ordeal.