Central Riga got a hard update this week.
State Police have named four teenage suspects after a run of attacks that got filmed for laughs — including one that blew up online from the corner of Vērmanes Garden, right by Elizabetes and Tērbatas.
In that clip, a young man hits a girl with his hands and feet while other teens watch, laugh, and keep the camera rolling. Police say the video is older than the wave that hit social feeds — but it was enough to open a real case.
Six and counting
This wasn’t a one-off. Investigators tie the group to at least six attacks. Criminal proceedings are underway for the violence. All four identified are minors — 14 or older — so they can face criminal liability.
“Four individuals have been designated as suspects, and the investigation is ongoing,” said Jānis Lapsalis, an inspector in the Riga Regional Police prevention department.
State Police say they haven’t seen fresh attacks from this crew lately, and they don’t read it as an ideological youth-gang wave. Riga Municipal Police deputy head Andrei Aronov backs that: no organized teen gangs forming to hunt people in the capital. Patrols still lean hard on the hangout spots.
Edijs Klaišins, who runs the OPEN youth center, puts it straight: push kids out of one plaza and they slide to the next — Origo yesterday, Akropole tomorrow. Patrols clean up the aftermath. Belonging is the real fight.
Stay alert around the parks. The cameras already caught this one.
