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Mum outraged by bystanders filming as 7-year-old daughter attacked at playground

The woman said she was in disbelief that people filmed the playground attack instead of trying to help.

WARNING —DISTRESSING CONTENT: A horrified Queensland mum has slammed the witnesses who filmed her seven-year-old daughter being brutally beaten by a teenage girl instead of jumping in to try and stop the alleged attack.

In the shocking footage circulating online following Sunday’s alleged assault in Cairns, the 13-year-old appears to punch the little girl before stomping on her head at a Smithfield playground.

In the background several other girls are laughing, while the young girl’s screams break out.

“I’m in such disbelief that bystanders decided to film it instead of stop it, and even worse, post it online,” the victim’s distraught mum told the Cairns Post. “She was out playing like kids should and this happened to her.”

The 13-year-old stomping on the seven-year-old girl's head a the playground in two images.. Source: Cairns Post
The horrifying video showed the 13-year-old appearing to stomp on the seven-year-old girl's head. Source: Cairns Post

‘The fact it’s online is absolutely disgusting’

After the seven-year-old returned home on Sunday afternoon with severe bruising on her head, her mother rushed her to the emergency department.

While describing her daughter as a “tough little cookie”, the woman said she will need “lots of love and professional therapy” following the incident. She’s also sent a stern message to the public.

“I’m not going to be silent about this,” she said. “It should not happen to nobody’s son or daughter and the fact it’s circulating online is absolutely disgusting. If anyone sees something like this circulating online, or even watches this kind of event in person, I really do urge people to go straight to the authorities.”

The mother said the family has been overwhelmed with support from her daughter’s school and the local community in the wake of the attack, and people have been dropping off teddy bears for her.

Teenage girl facing charges

Detectives from Cairns Child Protection and Investigation Unit have since charged the 13-year-old with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

She will appear in Cairns Children’s Court at a later date.

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