In Germany they mistook Arab tourists for illegal immigrants and tried to detain them – Rossiyskaya Gazeta

A group of 55 travelers of Syrian origin headed to the mountains of the region of Saxon Switzerland, in eastern Germany. The tourists spoke mainly Arabic among themselves.

Police responded to a phone call from local residents who believed the travelers were refugees from Syria. Illegal immigrants often cross the border between Germany and the Czech Republic in this area.

The tourists were returning to the lodge after their first day on the mountain when a patrol blocked their way. They were going to be detained, but after the conversation the police wished the foreigners a good day and left.

Some campaigners called the incident racism, others considered it typical German behavior.

“It’s strange that the local residents called the police when we were practicing the most German form of recreation: mountain climbing,” one of the tourists noted.