106 antisemitic crimes were committed in North Rhine-Westphalia during the conflict in Gaza

June 02, 2021

In connection with the recent riots in the Middle East, the police in North Rhine-Westphalia have registered 106 criminal offenses. Most of the acts are antisemitic and anti-Israeli, the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Interior informed the German Press Agency on Wednesday in Düsseldorf. 161 suspects are being investigated, 58 of whom have already been identified by name.

"We have already identified more than every third suspect. That is precise, persistent police work. Nobody who was involved in these ugly actions needs to feel safe," said North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU). Of the 58 suspects, 17 are Germans, 16 Syrians, 5 Lebanese, 4 German-Lebanese, 5 Turks, 1 German-Turk and 2 Iraqis. The remaining suspects each come from eight different other countries.

35 preliminary investigations were conducted for sedition, 5 for violating flags and emblems of foreign states, 12 for using symbols of unconstitutional organizations, 9 for violent crimes and 45 for other crimes such as insulting or resisting police officers. A significant proportion of the acts since May 10 had been committed during demonstrations.

Source: sueddeutsche