Assault caught on video at Cape Breton high school has 'shaken' school community

Cape Breton Regional Police have confirmed they are investigating an assault at Riverview Rural High School in Coxheath, N.S., that was captured on video and has been widely shared on social media.

The 27-second video shows a boy grab a smaller boy by the arm and throw him across what appears to be a locker room, while several people watch.

One onlooker can be heard saying "punch him in the face." He then picks up the smaller boy and throws him onto a tiled floor, where he lands on his head and neck. The F-word is used repeatedly.

Police sent out a tweet Thursday morning that said school staff reported the incident to them. They also asked people to stop sharing the video, for the "mental wellness" of those involved.

Education officials said they cannot comment on the specifics of what happened. But Michelle MacLeod, a spokesperson for the Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre of Education, said in an email that the incident was "unacceptable" and has "shaken the entire school community."

There's no indication of the extent of the victim's injuries.

Outside Riverview Thursday, students said they had been shaken by seeing the video online.

"I thought it was terrible and sickening and ugly," said Noah Druggett, a Grade 9 student. "I wouldn't expect something that extreme to happen."

Grade 10 student Matthew MacDonald said bullying is a problem at Riverview, as it is around the world.

"You see it every other day, in the halls, bathrooms, outside," he said. "We have to figure out a way to stop it."

MacLeod said school administrators are conducting their own investigation, and "based on the seriousness of the behaviour" will take appropriate action.

Police said they cannot comment on an active investigation and will give an update when it's finished.