Several OMAAT readers have brought this story to my attention, and I don’t even know what to say…
In this post:
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. At this link you can find the least graphic version of the video. 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…
Ben - I am a huge fan of yours; been following you since the onset.
I have never had any issues with your post but this one seems out of bounds.
I would recommend you take it down.
Hi Ben,
Not sure if the video needs to be linked on your OMAAT blog.
Agreeing with everyone else. Please consider taking this article down Ben. Yes, it happened at an airport but it really doesn't belong here.
This has been reported by news outlets all over the world, yet many of you are blaming Ben for also reporting it? Are you going to write the same comments to the other hundreds of outlets? If you don’t like the content of a post, you have the choice not to read it. It’s nothing less than immature to try to censor Ben…the lack of logic is feeble-minded.
OMG :( I hope the boy recovers, however the trauma could be long term . Terrible
This post belongs on this blog.
Most of us travel. Many of us travel or have traveled with kids. It is natural and common to separate from your kids by a few feet at times of reclaiming baggage. This could have happened to anyone of us.
Echoing the sentiments of others, I believe this is a new low for reporting on this blog. Don't come at me with comments like "it happened at an airport" or "just because Ben didn't post it doesn't mean it didn't happen."
This post is clearly designed to generate ad revenue and create buzz. At what point do we say enough is enough?
Ben what is the point of posting this. You have spent more than a decade building a quality travel resource and a trusted audience.
Surely your business has been very successful and you are not desperate enough for clicks and cheap revenue that you are resorting to this?
Shame on you.
Another example of a Zionist, this time one residing in Belarus, inflicting hatred onto the world.
Terrible than an innocent family has to go through this, just because of the colour of their skin.
Shameful.
Seems like Ben’s pro-Russia readership doesn’t want to see what their favorite country is truly about.
I would have said the same as it was someone in the US, Denmark or Spain: this doesn't belong on this blog and is only clickbait.
I am sad for watching that. I actually couldnt finish it. There is no need for this travel blog to have that on it.
Really don’t see why this horrific story needed to be reported here. Ben could have used better judgement on this one.
Thanks Lucky for reminding us why we NEVER leave children unattended.
Animals acting like animals in animal land. Does anyone else want to include Russian/Belarussian again in the community of humans or is this proof enough?
Anyone have the link to the full unedited version?
There is a website for such things called Liveleaks or go to the Nexta channel on Telegram (they are an indie news channel that covers Russia and other Slavic countries), go there and search, not here.
Couldn't bring myself to watch the video, have a toddler about to turn 2 soon... agree with other posts. Please remove.
I've read this blog for a long time, usually daily. I've noticed a precipitous decline of its standards, becoming increasingly more like tabloid click-bait. As some have said, we have a choice what posts to read and which to ignore and until this point I've done exactly that. But this post is it - enough is enough. I'll pop back later to see if this post is gone and/or an apology issued but if not then I'm gone and you can get your clicks elsewhere Ben
I think this is a shocking revelation of what Ben will do for clicks. I know standards have been falling but this is the lowest. You should be ashamed of yourself Mr Schlappig.
No. Just...NO. This is a bad judgement call, Ben. This story does not belong here, no matter how many clicks it may prompt. A tragedy involving a child should be left well alone, and not be a revenue-raising exercise. It feels like blood money.
But…it happened at an airport!!!!
Couldnt agree more with some of the comments below. Just because it happened at an airport does not qualify it as being aviation related. This blog isnt the place for something like this.
Same here, Ben posts too many of these "someone behaving badly in a place that is vaguely aviation related" items. Unless it is relevant to everyday flying I don't want to see it. People behave badly everywhere.
I have no idea why you would share this. Doesn't fit your content at all. Why?
No Ben. This is too much. This is a story I dont want to see here. Please remove it.
Completely agree, this will take along time for me to get out of my mind, a highly inappropriate post IMHO.
+1
Same. Sure, remotely aviation related because it happened at an airport, but is it that newsworthy to share?
It is newsworthy for sure but maybe not on OMAAT. This is the same exact issue like the Israeli defense firms drama in Paris Air Show. It is stressing the limit of the meaning of this blog
He will be executed by Ukrainian firing squad…
He will be certainly signing a military contract in the coming months to join the next batch of human meat grinders