
5 days · 3 summary articles
Europe sees wave of violent crimes by minors and young adults with arrests and convictions
Courts overturn lenient rulings in Cyprus, France as global violence reports surge
Violent attacks injure multiple victims across seven European cities in weekend spree
A wave of violent crimes involving minors and young adults has unfolded across Europe this week, with arrests and convictions in multiple countries.
In Greece, a 16-year-old Roma boy, a fugitive from a juvenile detention center since July 20, and a 17-year-old of Albanian descent were remanded in custody on Thursday after their arrest in Lamia. Authorities linked them to a string of burglaries, including a break-in at a daycare center where they stole the director’s bag containing personal documents, bank cards, and cash. A 15-year-old Roma accomplice remains at large. Police recovered the stolen wallet, bank cards, and an ID during a search of their residence, along with a hammer used to smash windows .
In Spain, Catalan police arrested a 17-year-old on Friday in connection with the sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman in a forested area of Vidreres last Saturday. The victim was threatened with a sickle while jogging. The suspect was placed under the jurisdiction of the Minor’s Prosecutor’s Office, and the Criminal Investigation Division continues its probe. On Wednesday, about 100 people gathered outside the town hall to demand justice, with Mayor Jordi Camps reading a manifesto condemning gender-based violence .
In Switzerland, a Zurich district court sentenced Han L., a 23-year-old Chinese national, to 15 years in prison for multiple attempted murders after he stabbed three 5-year-old boys near a school in October 2024. The court rejected his claim of diminished responsibility due to schizophrenia, citing inconsistent statements and evidence of premeditation, including knife purchases and online searches about arteries .
In Romania, a 15-year-old was sentenced to 15 years in a juvenile detention center for the murder and burning of 15-year-old Mario Berinde in Cenei earlier this year. Two other minors involved received lesser measures, with one deemed too young for criminal liability. The court also awarded over €1 million in moral damages to the victim’s family .
In France, a 15-year-old boy was formally charged with terrorism on Friday after allegedly planning a knife attack at a Lyon high school, motivated by far-right supremacist ideology .
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