Several OMAAT readers have brought this story to my attention, and I don’t even know what to say…
Man becomes violent at airport, puts toddler in coma
There’s video footage going viral on social media of a recent incident that occurred at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO). In a video that has been viewed tens of millions of times online in the past 24 hours, a 31-year-old Belarusian man can be seen slamming an 18-month-old Iranian refugee into the floor of the airport arrivals hall, head first.
As can be seen in the video footage, the man was standing near a toddler, and was looking around. When he noticed that there was no one around (or something), he picked him up, and slammed him down with force. The toddler is reportedly a refugee from Iran, and his mother just stepped away to collect the boy’s stroller, in the baggage claim part of the airport.
A bystander quickly stepped in to help the boy. Unfortunately he suffered several skull and spinal injuries, and is now in a coma. I hope he makes a full recovery… that’s just awful.
Below is the least graphic version of the video that I could find. Of course let me caution that most people will likely find this to be quite disturbing, so watch at your own discretion.
How could someone do something like this?!?
Police are now investigating what triggered this man’s behavior. Was it motivated by race or religion, was it just a random act of violence, or what?
A Russian Investigative Committee reports that traces of cannabis were found in the man’s bloodstream, and additional drugs were discovered on his person. I’m not sure what other “drugs” were discovered, but this otherwise doesn’t sound like the typical behavior of someone who smokes weed.
During police questioning, the man admitted to past trouble with the law. The man even reportedly has a daughter around the same age as the toddler he injured… ugh. He’s now being investigated for attempted murder. Per an official government statement:
“A man, while in the airport arrivals area in a state of drug intoxication, grabbed a child and, lifting him, threw him to the floor with considerable force. The boy was hospitalised in a medical facility for assistance. The man’s criminal actions were stopped by eyewitnesses of the incident.”
I can’t even begin to imagine what could posses someone to act this way toward a young child. This is simply unforgivable, and I hope this guy gets severe punishment. I have to imagine he must have some mental issues. While I hope he gets those treated, once those problems get to the point where innocent children are being harmed, the priority needs to be locking him up, so he can’t repeat these kinds of crimes.
Bottom line
A 31-year-old Belarusian man slammed an 18-month-old Iranian refugee into the ground in the arrivals hall in Moscow Airport. There’s no known motive here, which is perhaps the worst part of the story (I mean, not that there’s ever a good motive for being violent toward a child).
The man is now facing attempted murder charges. Hopefully he’s locked up, so he isn’t able to behave this way again…
