The Limburg Public Prosecutor's Office has already identified 12 young people who sent threats to Flemish education minister Zuhal Demir (Flemish nationalist N-VA). The youngest of them is only 10 years old. ‘A police report will be drawn up with regard to every individual, and appropriate measures will be taken,’ says Anna Degraen of the Limburg Public Prosecutor's Office.
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Public prosecutor identifies 12 youngsters, including 10-year-old, after threats are made against Education minister
Colin Clapson
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From next year onwards Demir wants to reduce the number of pedagogical study days, when no lessons are given. The news led to protests among teenagers and even threats against the minister. Demir then decided to call in the police.
The police received a total of 20 reports with regard to threating messages. Twelve young people have already been identified. ‘They are schoolchildren between the ages of 10 and 15, from across Flanders,’ says Anna Degraen of the Limburg Public Prosecutor's Office.
Individual approach should pay off
A police report will be drawn up for each young person. ‘We are filing a report for each individual, listing defamation and threats against the minister,’ says Degraen. ‘The case will be dealt with by the public prosecutor's office responsible for the locality where the young person lives.’
According to Degraen, each young person will be dealt with separately. ‘Certainly, in the case of minors, appropriate measures are always considered taking the individual into account. One possibility is for the young person, their parents and a youth criminologist to meet. In all cases, follow-up action will be taken.’
The investigation hoping to identify other young people who made threats is continuing.