Suspected arson attack hits German refugee center
Two refugees in Germany have been injured in a suspected arson attack at a refugee center in the southeastern city of Regensburg.
The victims were hospitalized for smoke inhalation after fire broke out at the center in the city’s Grunthal district on Thursday.
A total of 15 asylum seekers were at the premises at the time when the blaze engulfed the building, prompting emergency services to be called in to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident, which took place shortly after unknown attackers attempted to set fire to a refugee shelter in the town of Nauen, west of the capital, Berlin. No casualties were reported from the latter incident.
Some 1.1 million refugees were registered in Germany between January and December 2015. The country is expecting 2.5 million more to arrive over the next five years.
Germany has witnessed multiple similar xenophobic attacks on refugee shelters, particularly in the former communist eastern part of the country.
According to Germany’s Criminal Police Office, over 800 attacks targeted refugee shelters in 2015. A total of 231 extreme-right attacks were also recorded across the country between January 1 and February 20 this year.
A notable incident last month saw about 100 people blocking a bus transporting refugees to a shelter in Clausnitz, a small town about 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) from the eastern city of Dresden, and yelling “Get lost,” “Stop crying and go home if you don’t like it here,” among other invective.
Also last month, another suspected arson attack hit a former hotel, which was being turned into a refugee home in the town of Bautzen in eastern Germany. The incident was followed by mob cheering as blaze raged.
Germany undecided on complying with ICC arrest warrants for Israeli war criminals
Scholz-Putin phone call opens ‘Pandora’s box’: Zelensky
Far-right German party calls for UN probe into ‘Berlin’s role’ in Nord Stream blasts
Iran beats traditional rival Russia in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling friendly
Rape trials trigger protests against French ‘sexist and misogynistic’ culture
US photographer opens Berlin exhibition with anti-Israel speech
VIDEO | Press TV's News Headlines
VIDEO | US 'non-profit killer’ bill targets pro-Palestinian groups
Explainer: How Yemeni military chased away US aircraft carrier from Red Sea?
French march for women of Palestine
Erdogan: Upholding ICC arrest warrants will restore trust in intl. system
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
