A disturbing video has gone viral showing South Yorkshire police officers brutally attacking five teenage girls in Rotherham, England. The incident occurred on Saturday night when the 15-17 year olds were leaving a house party and were met with an unprovoked assault by police.
According to eyewitness accounts, one of the girls was handcuffed and taken away by police, kept in a cell for several hours without contact with her family. Others suffered injuries including fractured wrists, deep lacerations, painful punches, and contusions.
The video footage has sparked widespread outrage, registering over 3 million views across social media platforms. South Yorkshire Police initially stated that the use of force was "proportionate, necessary, and justified" but later requested a peer review from another police force, which upheld their findings.
However, residents and parents have disputed this account, claiming that none of them were asked for their version of events by police investigators. The girls who sustained injuries described their horrific experience to reporters, including being punched, pepper-sprayed, and slammed to the ground.
The incident has raised concerns about police brutality and the treatment of minors in custody. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has called on the Chief Constable to review the evidence and take "the strongest possible action" against officers involved.
This is not an isolated incident, as South Yorkshire Police have a history of violent repression and anti-democratic measures against the working class, including during the 1984-85 national miners' strike.