Germany: Officials decry racist attack on young girls
June 16, 2024
German officials have condemned an attack that resulted in the injury of a Ghanaian girl and her father.
Police said that an 8-year-old Ghanaian girl and her 10-year-old sister were attacked by a group of around 20 teenagers and young adults late on Friday.
What do we know about the attack?
The 8-year-old girl and her father sustained mild injuries and were hospitalized.
The attack occurred in the town of Grevesmühlen in the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Police said the attackers kicked the younger girl in the face, after which the girl's parents intervened.
According to police reports, one of the suspected attackers continued to direct racist insults at the victims after officers arrived at the scene.
Police are investigating a breach of the peace, grievous bodily harm, incitement of hatred and verbal abuse.
Officials condemn attack
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on the platform X, formerly Twitter, that her thoughts and solidarity were with the children and their family.
"Calling children racist names and brutally attacking them is a sign of deep hatred and inconceivable inhumanity," she said.
Grevesmühlen Mayor Lars Prahler told the German public radio station NDR 1 Radio MV that he was shocked at the incident.
"This racially motivated offense simply leaves me stunned. It shows bottomless hatred and uninhibited inhumanity and cannot be excused," he said.
He added that the fact that some of the suspects are teenagers is no excuse for the behavior.
State Premier Manuela Schwesig condemned the attack in a post on X.
"The injured girl is 8 years old — as young as my daughter. We must not allow hatred and hate speech to poison our society and violence to threaten our children," she declared.
Jana Michael, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Integration Commissioner, urged those in the group of youths to name the perpetrators.
"Every witness who remains silent is complicit and prevents the investigation of this disgusting violence against children," she said.
sdi/rmt (dpa, AFP)