Overview

• Federal police deployed about 120 officers to search four apartments and two business premises in Mettmann, Bonn, Witten and Sprockhövel.
• A 32-year-old Syrian was detained in Mettmann on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry and document forgery and was to be brought before a magistrate.
• Investigators say the group allegedly moved Syrians by truck across the Turkish–Greek border and enabled air travel using forged identity papers.
• Authorities seized mobile phones, documents and a semi-automatic pistol, with the firearm secured in Witten.
• Five people are under investigation, including three brothers and a 42-year-old alleged supporter, with prosecutors citing at least three Syrians brought to Germany using the described methods.