Four suspended after 'terrified' students trapped inside school toilet by angry mob
Four Melbourne Year 12 students have been suspended following a cruel school bullying incident that was broadcast live on Facebook.
Two frightened students were forced to barricade themselves in the toilets of Killester College girls school after they were cornered by a mob.
The group taunted them from the outside, while other students watched on and did nothing. One even streamed the whole incident on social media.
No one was injured but it doesn't diminish the severity of what took place.
Mobile phone footage shows the crowd of students applauding as a group of four shout and bang on the door of the toilet cubicle.
It's an example of what happens when a war of words breaks out on Facebook between two groups of girls who then try to sort it out at school.
The argument involving senior students sparked by a disagreement about a boy.
Despite the footage, Killester College principal Leanne Di Stefano downplayed claims that there was a 50-student mob, insisting that only about 15 girls watched on, which "contributed to the tension of the situation".
The school released a statement saying it was disappointed in the behaviour.
"As a school we always tell girls they have a right to feel safe happy and learn.
"Yesterday these rights were breached and two students did not feel safe,” Ms Di Stefano said.
“Disappointingly, about 15 other Year 12 girls decided to go into the toilets to watch, one of whom decided to live stream the incident."
The chaotic Facebook Live post quickly reached more than 1000 views before it was deleted.
“A number of girls are on suspension while we work through the issues with them and their parents,” Ms Di Stefano added.
“Furthermore, we are disappointed by the girls who, as bystanders, failed to recognise how their behaviour contributed to the tension of the situation.”
It has been reported that as the girls banged on the doors of the toilets, the terrified girls inside called police.
Many concerned parents, who learned of the attack during the middle of the day, had their children taken out of school early.
