A young man in Minden, Germany, had his life cut tragically short after being brutally attacked by a gang of “youths.” Police initially refused to release any descriptions of the attackers, but later admitted the main suspect was Syrian.
20-year-old Phillipos Tsanis, who is from a Greek-Polish family, was attacked on June 23 while coming home from a graduation ceremony in the early hours of the morning. While heading back to his residence, Tsanis was confronted by a group of approximately 10 men. Tsanis reportedly pleaded to be left alone, but the situation quickly escalated.
Witnesses to the attack recount seeing Tsanis lying on the ground being kicked and punched in the head. His assailants continued even when his body went lifeless. After police were called and emergency personnel arrived, Tsanis was rushed to the hospital where he was put on life support but died three days later of his severe brain injuries.
Following a hasty investigation, one 18-year-old suspect believed to be the one whose blows caused Tsanis’ death was arrested. The man was known to police for previously committing property offenses in the area.
While police initially refused to release details about the suspect’s origin, they later admitted he was a Syrian national and had been arrested at a refugee shelter. The man, named only as Mwafak A., reportedly arrived in Germany in 2016. He has been charged with manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.
None of the other perpetrators have since been arrested, but all were described as having a “southern appearance.”
Suspicions have also arisen that the motive for the attack was anti-Christian hatred, as Tsanis was wearing a cross necklace at the time of the attack, and similar incidents had reportedly occurred in the area. Neither police nor prosecutors have speculated on the motive of the crime.
Dimitris Tsanis, the father of the victim, gave a statement to BILD in which he remembered his son as a peaceful, generous person.
“He was such a peaceful person who thought more and more of the other people. If he only had ten euros in his pocket, he gave it to the needy,” the greiving father said.
“He just wanted to enjoy the graduation party with his sister and friends. His life was just beginning. The violence has to stop. This could happen to anyone’s child, and no parent should endure such a devastating loss.”
