Germany, Sweden arrest 8 suspects for crimes against humanity in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Germany and Sweden arrested on Wednesday eight suspects for involvement in crimes against humanity in Syria.
Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement the detainees were suspected of participating in a “violent crackdown on a peaceful anti-government protest” in the al-Yarmouk neighborhood in the Syrian capital Damascus on July 13, 2012.
The statement pointed out five detainees, a Syrian and four Palestinians who resided in Syria, arrested in Germany were “strongly suspected of killing and attempting to kill civilians, qualified as crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
The Syrian national, identified as Mazhar J, is believed to have worked for the General Intelligence Directorate of the Syrian government forces, according to the statement.
The detainees and other accomplices specifically targeted civilian protesters and shot at them, killing six people and severely injuring others, the statement said.
Meanwhile, three individuals arrested in Sweden were members of an armed militia affiliated with the government forces that was involved in criminal activities on July 13, 2012.
Ulrika Bentelius Egelrud, the Swedish prosecutor leading the investigation, highlighted that the suspects were apprehended due to effective collaboration with Germany, Eurojust, and Europol.