EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GERMANY Germany struggles with surge in arson attacks against refugees

Record ID: 146170

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GERMANY Germany struggles with surge in arson attacks against refugees
  • Date: 27th July 2015
  • Summary: ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** POLICEMEN STANDING BY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE RELEASING BALLOONS INTO THE AIR FREITAL, GERMANY (JULY 27, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS' HOME IN EASTERN GERMAN STATE OF SAXONY EXTERIOR OF APARTMENT BLOCK WHERE CITY COUNCILLOR MICHAEL RICHTER OF "DIE LINKE" (THE LEFT) PARTY LIVES AND WHERE HIS CAR WAS SET ON FIRE OVE
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACC6LVE3H9O9ETG27LG1W5JNZV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hours before local politicians held a mini summit in the southern German state capital of Stuttgart on Monday (July 27) to discuss how to deal with a sharp increase in asylum seekers as well as arson attacks on their homes, the car of a city councillor in support of refugees was set on fire overnight.
    Michael Richter of Die Linke (The Left) party told reporters in the town of Freital in Saxony that shortly before 1 a.m., "I was woken up by a loud bang outside my house. When I looked out the window I saw black smoke rising from my car. The doors and the windows were damaged."
    Richter said that despite receiving death threats in the past, he intended to continue his work.
    "We from the Left party always made known our position regarding the asylum issue. For us it's clear that traumatised people coming from war and conflict zones must find a safe shelter with us here and we as a society must welcome them," Richter said.
    Freital, the town where he lives, has repeatedly seen acts of hostility against asylum-seekers living here.
    Hardly a day has passed this year in Germany without an attack on refugee shelters as the country struggles to cope with a record-breaking number of asylum-seekers fleeing wars and violence abroad.
    A total of 150 arson or other attacks have been recorded in the first six months of 2015, damaging or destroying newly renovated shelters for the 450,000 asylum-seekers expected to reach Germany this year, according to government data.
    The attacks, often erupting from local protests against the shelters before refugees arrive, have tarnished the image of a country that has done so much to atone for its Nazi past. They have also caused tensions as many Germans support the refugees.
    More than twice as many refugees are expected in Germany this year than the 200,000 who sought shelter here last year.
    Of the 85,394 arrivals in the first quarter alone, most came from Kosovo, Syria, Serbia, Albania, Iraq and Afghanistan.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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