A video showing a group of teenagers beating up another boy has caused widespread anger and consternation in the Netherlands, especially now one of the suspect’s home’s is under police protection.

The video showing 14-year-old Tommie from Spijkenisse near Rotterdam being punched and kicked repeatedly has so far led to six arrests, a crowdfunding campaign and support from a local rapper.

The home of one of the suspects, named as Sjimmie, is now under 24-hour police guard after the youth put his own address on internet. He is in police custody and his family have gone into hiding.

Neighbours told the Telegraaf they cannot understand why ‘friendly and polite Sjimmie’ should have attacked the other boy and say that their own lives have been transformed. ‘We have to show ID to go into our own street,’ one neighbour told the Telegraaf.

‘Fear and embarrassment have the upper hand in Spijkenisse,’ the paper says. ‘Not just due to the brutal attack and the fear of reprisals but the fear that the town itself will be damaged.’

Several of the youngsters live in the Akkers district, which has been at the centre of local authority clean up efforts in recent years.

Cards

Meanwhile, a neighbourhood committee has organised a campaign to send cards to Tommie, he has been offered a weekend break in a holiday village and rapper Lexxxus has said he will take him on a day out.

Tommie has also used the rapper’s Instagram account to let well-wishers know that he is recovering and thanking well wishers for their support. The attack reportedly left him with a broken nose, torn ear lobe and severe bruising.

Nearly 800 people have donated to a crowd-funding campaign to raise money for the boy and his family. It has so far raised over €8,600, well over the €5,000 target.

‘As a father and mother of four boys, we have felt the pain of the beaten-up boy from Spijkenisse,’ the website says. ‘Perhaps they will need money for medical or legal costs, or even a couple of days away to get over it all.’