Daijiworld Media Network- New York

New York, May 25: A horrific assault on two teenage girls in Kissena Park, Queens, earlier this month has ignited widespread outrage and prompted urgent calls for a more thorough investigation into the motive behind the brutal attack. The incident, which occurred on May 2, involved a group of older teenagers who allegedly dragged the victims into a wooded area, assaulted them, and stole their belongings, according to a report by the New York Post.

The victims, a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old, were playing basketball around 6 p.m. when they were confronted by a group consisting of four 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old. The assailants reportedly subjected the girls to a violent ordeal, including beating them with a baseball bat. In a particularly disturbing act, part of the older girl's head was forcibly shaved using an electric hair clipper. The attackers also stole her mobile phone and the younger girl's valuable limited-edition sneakers, estimated to be worth over $500.

Disturbing video footage circulating on social media captures a portion of the assault, showing the 13-year-old being repeatedly struck with a bat while she was curled on the ground. The footage also shows one of the attackers removing her shoes and continuing the assault. Photos of the 16-year-old victim reveal significant bruising on her back and a noticeable section of missing hair.

Authorities have confirmed that the victims, both of Chinese descent, knew their attackers. Despite the severity and nature of the assault, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has not yet classified it as a hate crime, and the motive remains under active investigation. Reports indicate that one of the girls lost consciousness during the harrowing two-hour ordeal.

Police have since arrested five teenagers in connection with the attack: three 17-year-old boys, a 17-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old boy. They face a range of charges, including felony robbery, assault, gang assault, strangulation, harassment, weapons possession, and grand larceny.

While the case is currently being treated primarily as a robbery due to the theft of personal items, the victims' families are vehemently urging authorities to delve deeper into the circumstances, characterizing the assault as a planned and "inhumane" act.

This incident has reignited concerns about safety within Kissena Park, which was also the site of another violent crime last year when a 13-year-old girl was raped in a wooded section of the park.