Two youths of 17 and one of 14 have been arrested in connection with a string of group rapes in Rotterdam, city police said on Tuesday. The victims were aged 12 and 16 and were all pupils at the Lentiz Life College, a trade school on the border between Rotterdam and Schiedam. The assaults took place in cellars and sheds in the west of the port city, police said. The police statement did not say how many girls had been attacked but said the investigation was started after one girl made a formal complaint. 'It was a long and difficult investigation,' detective Lincy Lansbergen said. 'We quickly realised there was more than one victim. We knew the signs but we did not have the statements. Some girls preferred to talk to their parents than to us, for a variety of reasons.' Lansbergen said the girls who had been attacked are a vulnerable, insecure group who were often charmed by their attackers. 'The case is made more difficult because to a certain extent the girls liked the boys and were willing to go with them,' she said. 'They like to hang out with them, but that does not give the boys the right to abuse them... we want to make it clear to the girls that they can set the boundaries and the boys should respect them.' The investigation is still underway and the police are appealing for more girls who may have been victims of the gang to come forward.  More >

The parents of Dutch citizens who left to fight in the war in Syria have launched a foundation to try to force the government to help them return to the Netherlands. Around 20 parents have joined non-profit foundation De Achterblijvers, which is expected be registered with the chamber of commerce on April 17, the Volkskrant reports. The organisation is considering going to court to challenge the government's policy of not offering active support to Dutch nationals in the region. 'The Kurds and aid agencies are keen to co-operate, but we still have to convince our politicians,' said a man named by the newspaper as Hussain. 'The Netherlands has ignored a report by the children's ombudsman and is violating the rights of children.' He said the families accepted that their relatives would face prison sentences if they returned to the Netherlands, but argued that they were still entitled to support from the government. 'Obviously our children have to answer to a judge for what they have done and be prevented from doing anything dangerous. But we don't want our grandchildren, like the children of NSB'ers [Dutch Nazi party members] to be punished for the actions of their parents,' Hussain said. In January ombudsman Margriet Kalverboer urged justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus to bring back dozens of children stuck in refugee camps in Syria, arguing that the Netherlands has a duty of care towards them. Around 145 children with Dutch nationality or who are entitled to it are thought to be living in the conflict zone. If parents cannot protect their children, the government should step in,' she said. The government's policy is that anyone who wants to leave the area must take the initiative by presenting themselves to an embassy or consulate. However, the Netherlands has suspended diplomatic services in Damascus because of the deteriorating situation. Broadcaster NOS reported last week that the foreign ministry had shared information with Turkey and the Free Syrian Army in an attempt to repatriate four men who had taken part in the conflict in a 'supervised return', which would include prosecution. The prosecution department has asked courts to impose jail terms of at least six years on anyone who fought in the war.    More >