TEENAGER IN FIRE ATTACK ("Happy slapping" madness)

Sky News ^ | Thursday July 14, 2005 | Sky News

[Eurotwit]

TEENAGER IN FIRE ATTACK

A 13-year-old boy was gagged and tied to a tree with tape which was then set on fire during a "happy slapping" attack.

Kyle Parker was targeted by a gang of older pupils who made him wear a monkey mask and tied his feet together with a school tie.

His 35-year-old mother, Maxine Lever, said: "He could have been burned alive, all because of a stupid prank."

The attack happened in woodland near to Smithills High School in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

It is the latest in a series of "happy slapping" incidents in which the assault is recorded on mobile phone video cameras.

Kyle and three classmates ventured into the woodland during their lunchbreak when they were confronted by a group of older pupils.

The youngster said: "I felt the heat from the flames on my shoulder but I managed to get out of the tape and put the flames out before it hurt me.

"I ran after one of them and caught up with him in the field next to the school and had a fight with him."

Police said a boy of 15 had been arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment and would be questioned later.

Smithills has excluded one pupil after the attack and tempoarily excluded six. Two others also face exclusion.

[mware]

What the hell is slapping happy? Don't think I have ever heard of it here in the States.

[NRA1995]

WALKING UP TO A TOTAL STRANGER, SLAPPING HIM IN THE FACE AND CATCHING HIS REACTION ON CAMERA....THE LITTLE CREEP GOT WHAT HE DESERVED, IN MY BOOK....

[csvset]

Happy slapping is essentially an blind side assault that is recorded via video phones. The event is then sent via phones as a "must see" sort of entertainment.

[Homer1]

WTH?

[mware]

WALKING UP TO A TOTAL STRANGER, SLAPPING HIM IN THE FACE AND CATCHING HIS REACTION ON CAMERA....

He would not last very long if he attempted it in my neck of the woods.

[freedomson]

And after happy slapping gets boring they can move on to happy knifing.

[Callahan]

The only "happing slapping" I ever heard of involves a box of tissues. It may twist young minds but at least it's not illegal.

[BBell]

They made him wear a Monkey mask!! Where's Jesse and Al on this. It sounds racist to me. I think Jesse, Al, and Louie need to high tale it across the pond, maybe they'll like it and stay awhile. A looooong while.

[Americanexpat]

"...THE LITTLE CREEP GOT WHAT HE DESERVED, IN MY BOOK..."

Which little creep are you referring to? The 13 year old or the kid he fought with? Not trying to be smart with you, just didn't understand your comment.

[Americanexpat]

"And after happy slapping gets boring they can move on to happy knifing."

I think they are already at that point. A couple of these incidents were just slapping but real assaults and beatings. This incident shows it is already getting out of hand. Wonder what they used to set him afire with, lighter fluid. The authorities need to come down hard on these a$$holes, this was no innocent prank.

[Siouxz]

WALKING UP TO A TOTAL STRANGER, SLAPPING HIM IN THE FACE AND CATCHING HIS REACTION ON CAMERA....

LOL!! On first glance, I thought you wrote WAKING up to a total stranger, slapping him in the face, and catching his reaction on camera! What a visual that was.

[johnny7]

Children of the Corn.

[cinives]

Another fine example of positive socialization at the gubmint skewels.

This must be what the NEA refers to as a comprehensive social experience.

homeschool ping!

[NRA1995]

The one who did the slapping

[mewzilla]

What the hell is slapping happy?

It's assault.

And the fact that the Brits have given it such a cutesy name should tell you a lot about Britain.

[L,TOWM]

I have feeling the vidoephoned reaction "shot" here in Tejas would be quite remarkable, if any one was fool enough to try it.

[mware]

That is how far removed I am from what is "IN."

I have never heard of such a thing.

[jiggyboy]

I can't tell if the tying-to-the-tree was the incident or if that was retaliation for a previous incident.

[AngryJawa]

I guess there's not much worry in the UK of the happy slapping victim's reaction consisting of providing the punk with a close-up inspection of the business end of a .45...

Freakin' lunacy...