Massive increase in attacks on refugee shelters

[unhappycamper]

http://www.dw.com/en/massive-increase-in-attacks-on-refugee-shelters/a-18774052

Authorities in Germany have recorded more than 490 attacks on asylum seeker shelters this year. The attacks ranged from racist graffiti to arson and, worryingly, the alleged perpetrators were not the usual suspects.

Massive increase in attacks on refugee shelters
09.10.2015

In an interview published on Friday, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said 493 attacks had been recorded against asylum-seeker shelters this year. That is more than double the number of attacks for the whole of last year.

"We are seeing a massive rise in xenophobic attacks against asylum seekers," de Maiziere told newspapers of the Funke media group. "This is a disgrace for Germany."

Worryingly, two-thirds of the attacks were carried out by local citizens who had no previous criminal record, de Maiziere said. A third of the alleged offenders were already known to the police - due to right-wing extremist offenses or for other reasons.

"I find this growth in the number of people who are using violence, alarming," de Maiziere said, adding that hate mail, insults and foul language were fuelling the violence. He added "That's why we must fight to ensure that there are some things you just do not say and do."