Essen (dpa / lnw) – Four young people are said to have tortured and injured two 15 and 16-year-old girls in an apartment in Essen. The girls were maltreated with electric shocks, a glowing cigarette and hot water, the police reported on Tuesday. A girl’s hair was cut off and she was threatened with a knife. When a neighbor heard the girls’ screams and rang the doorbell a week ago, the quartet probably fled.

The investigation finally led the police to four youths between the ages of 15 and 17 who were already known for violent and property crimes. Because it could not be ruled out that they might be armed, special units were deployed on Tuesday when they were arrested and the apartment was searched. The suspects should be brought before a magistrate.