Videotaped beating leads to arrests of 3

NEW YORK (AP) -- A 13-year-old whose videotaped beating was posted widely on the Internet thought she was meeting another teenager at school to resolve a love triangle but instead was attacked, police said.
Three girls, two 14-year-olds and a 13-year-old, were arrested Tuesday on charges of juvenile delinquency with an underlying charge of attempted assault for the Dec. 18 attack at a schoolyard, said Suffolk County police Lt. Robert Edwards.
"It was a beef over a mutual interest in a boy," Edwards said. "They agreed to meet, but I don't think the victim realized it was going to be a fight."
Authorities said the girl was dragged by her hair and kicked and punched in the head. In the video, which was posted on Web sites including YouTube and MySpace, screaming can be heard as the victim cowers on the ground. Several others look on without intervening as she attempts to kick back but is overpowered.
The victim was not hospitalized and did not tell her parents.
, Edwards said. Instead, North Babylon school authorities learned of the video and notified police Jan. 2. The victim's parents were initially hesitant to press charges but chose to go ahead when the video was broadcast on several news shows, Edwards said.
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