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NRW Police Report Finds Fivefold Rise in Syrian Suspects, Elevated Youth Violence

Interior Minister Herbert Reul urges early intervention to prevent clan-like structures from taking root.

Overview

  • The LKA/SiKo Ruhr “Euphrat” analysis, based on 18 months of police and immigration files plus case reviews and expert interviews, details offense patterns among Syrian suspects.
  • Violent and coercive crimes account for about 38% of recorded offenses, a higher share than among other non‑German suspects, with knives used most frequently as the weapon.
  • Syrians presently account for roughly 2% of organized‑crime proceedings in NRW, yet the report sees a risk that loose groups could consolidate into stable networks.
  • Investigators note a striking overrepresentation of minors, with the share of Syrian juvenile suspects nearly twice that of other foreign minors, and emphasize frequent victimization within the community.
  • Authors caution that population growth since 2015 affects absolute numbers, while the report’s release has triggered calls for tougher measures such as deportations alongside reminders of legal limits.