40 People Injured in Pepper-Spray Attack on Refugee Shelter in Germany

Forty people, including eight children, were injured in Germany after a man pepper-sprayed asylum seekers at a refugee shelter.

Police arrested the 28-year-old male suspect, who tested positive for alcohol and illegal drugs.
Dozens of people were sprayed inside a former hospital in the town of Massow, which was recently converted into refugee housing, the Local reported.
The man was then overpowered and locked in an empty room, witnesses told the Berliner Morgenpost.
The refugees, who were examined by authorities, were found to have irritation of the respiratory tract and eyes. Two adults and eight children were taken to hospital following the Tuesday night incident.

Police said on Wednesday that the 28-year-old suspect from Sachsen was intoxicated, registering a blood alcohol level of .25 percent. He also tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, and was already known to police for his drug use, RBB reported.
The suspect – who was employed at a building firm working at the site of the refugee shelter – was staying at a hotel in the same complex, and therefore had access to the secured area, according to police, RT reported.
Germany has witnessed numerous attacks on refugees over the past several weeks, including arson attacks on shelters. The country’s far right has also staged numerous anti-immigrant protests.
Referring to anti-immigrant clashes, which left 31 officers injured earlier this month, Chancellor Angela Merkel said the incident was “shameful and repulsive.”
Merkel has also said there is “no tolerance” for those who are “not willing to help where legal and human help is required.”