A ‘smart’ and ‘talented’ student has suffered ‘life-changing’ injuries after being kidnapped while walking home from school and attacked by a gang of knife-wielding thugs who pushed him out of their moving car.
The 14-year-old Year 9 student was bundled into a dark gray Volkswagen Tiguan on Monday afternoon after stepping out of the gates of Glen Eira College in Glen Huntly, Melbourne’s south-east.
In the vehicle, he was robbed of his mobile phone and other belongings and assaulted before being thrown from the moving car several hundred feet away.
Benjamin is still in a serious but stable condition in hospital, and police have revealed that at least two other students – aged 14 and 16 – from the same school have come forward to report being the target of similar attacks.
“More victims have come forward,” Victoria Police Inspector Scott Dwyer told 3AW on Wednesday.
“There have been some silent victims. They suffered just like this other boy, maybe not as badly as he did, but they didn’t report it to their parents or the police.”
Year 9 Glen Eira College student Benjamin (pictured) is in a serious but stable condition after being kidnapped by thugs while walking home from school
Inspector Dwyer said Benjamin suffered “life-changing” injuries and severe mental trauma.
Police have revealed that the investigation has now expanded to determine whether the attack was linked to a similar incident just ten minutes after Benjamin’s abduction.
In that incident, four teenagers were robbed by two machete-wielding trespassers on Kambrook Road, in nearby Caulfield, at around 3:25pm Monday.
Alarmingly, five other schools in eastern Melbourne have reported students being targeted by thieves in similar incidents over the past month – though police believe these have nothing to do with Monday’s incidents.
Several Xavier College students were targeted last week, while a Scott’s College student was robbed by three men on Aug. 7, 9News reports.
Just three days before the attack on Benjamin, according to the Herald Sun, an Elwood College student was approached by a woman in an SUV who tried to take his cell phone.
Similar reports have also emerged from students at Carey Grammar, Sacre Coeur and St Bede’s College.
Police have now stepped up patrols across the region, with Inspector Dwyer describing the attacks as ‘sickening’.
The horrific attack took place on Neerim Road, in front of Glen Eira College (pictured), with two other students from the school reported being targets of similar incidents
Schools are also urging children to keep mobile phones and headphones out of sight and to walk in groups to stay safe when they leave school.
“It’s confronting and the problem is we live in a safe city and when incidents like this are reported it’s shocking but there will be a response,” said Inspector Dwyer.
“This is an absolute priority for us.”
Benjamin’s devastated aunt told reporters outside the hospital that her cousin did his best to fight off his attackers and suffered horrific injuries.
“It’s frustrating to know they’ve only done this to a child,” she told Channel 10 on Tuesday.
“They must be arrested and these people must be punished appropriately.
“Not a slap on the wrist. They have to go to jail.’
In the photo: Emergency services on site after Benjamin was found with serious injuries on Monday
A teacher who taught Benjamin for two years said the indiscriminate attack has left the school community in turmoil.
“He is a talented, well-mannered and smart young man. It’s really shocking to think that this could happen in our school community,” the teacher told the Herald Sun.
“He comes from a very good family and I think of them at this time. He’s really lucky to be alive.
“I hope those responsible are caught soon, this should never have happened.”
Police are still tracking down Benjamin’s attackers, who are believed to be white in appearance.
The terrifying attack took place in front of dozens of shocked students who left school that day.
One student saw the victim lying on the ground and coughing up blood after he fell from the vehicle at the intersection of Neerim and Grange Road.
Benjamin was initially taken to hospital with serious injuries and fought for life, before his condition worsened the following day.
Police cordoned off the road on Monday as they investigate the attack, which is being treated as a random kidnapping and robbery.
Detective acting master sergeant Lisa Watson said Benjamin was just an “innocent victim walking home from school.”
“My detectives are working tirelessly to investigate those involved and the vehicle involved and to establish links to other events that happened earlier that afternoon,” she said.
“As a parent, I get completely sick of thinking my son is walking home from school and randomly confronted by people with knives.
“It’s a horrific attack. It is reprehensible and we will do everything we can to bring these perpetrators to justice as soon as possible.’
She said police found a burned-out Volkswagen in the eastern suburb of Dandenong around midnight that same day. This is being tested to determine if it was the same car used in the attack.
Anyone who has witnessed an incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage or any other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.