The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Germany has arrested five suspected Syrian war criminals.
As reported by the German news paper Tagesschau, these individuals are believed to have participated in the killing and attempted killing of civilians, acting on behalf of the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad.
The arrests took place at various locations across Germany.
The detainees include stateless Syrian Palestinians Jihad A., Mahmoud A., Sameer S., and Wael S., along with Syrian national Mazhar J.
In 2012, these suspects were reportedly involved in violently suppressing a demonstration, which resulted in at least six deaths. They and their accomplices are alleged to have opened fire on the demonstrators.
Role in Syrian Civil War
Four of the arrested men were part of an armed militia that acted on behalf of the Syrian government against the population during the civil war. One of the suspects was an employee of the Syrian secret service.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses these individuals of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Four of them also face accusations of torture. Other charges include deprivation of liberty resulting in death and war crimes against property.
The suspects will appear before the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice today and tomorrow.
The judge will present the arrest warrants and decide on the execution of their pre-trial detention.
A Civil War Since 2012
Since April 2011, the Syrian regime has used increasingly brutal methods to suppress dissent within the country.
The government aimed to crush the protest movement early and intimidate the population by imprisoning, torturing, and often killing perceived or actual opposition members.
By early 2012, these tensions had escalated into a full-scale civil war, pitting Syrian state forces against armed opposition groups.
