‘Fake news’: FO denies report of Germany handing over suspects involved in consulate attack

• Dozens of miscreants attacked consulate on July 20.
• German police have arrested two of the suspects.
• Pakistan condemned attack by extremists on its consulate.

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Sunday denied authenticity in the report circulating on social media about Germany handing over of those involved in the attack on Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt.

When asked whether the suspects involved in the vandalism were handed over to Pakistan, as being claimed in a report on social media, FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch termed the report a “fake news”.

Dozens of miscreants had attacked the Pakistani consulate during a protest in Frankfurt on July 20. Following which, the German police had arrested two suspects.

Reports indicated that German authorities had allowed Afghan nationals to hold a peaceful protest. However, the demonstration’s participants turned violent, lobbed stones at the consulate building, and removed the country’s flag, leading to heightened tensions.

After arresting two Afghan nationals, German police had anticipated more arrests as they continued to identify additional protesters with the help of video footage.

A day after the incident, Pakistan condemned the attack by the gang of extremists on its consulate as well as the failure of the German authorities to protect the sanctity and security of the premises of its consular mission.

Meanwhile, Pakistan had summoned Germany’s senior most diplomat to register a strong protest over the incident.

The FO statement had said that the responsibility to protect the premises and ensure the security of diplomats falls under the host government under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963.

“We are conveying our strong protest to the German government and urge to take immediate measures to fulfil its responsibilities under the Vienna Conventions,” the Foreign Office had said.

Pakistan had also sought the German authorities to take immediate measures to arrest and prosecute those involved in the instance and hold to account those responsible for the lapses in security.

According to media reports, the situation had drawn significant attention among the international communities, raising concerns about the diplomatic security of the installations.

However, the German authorities had assured the officials of a thorough investigation. They have also detained and quizzed several people after the video went viral.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had asked whether Afghans should be hosted after the incident in Germany.

In a conversation with Geo News, Asif had termed the Afghans thankless and said that Pakistan was still hosting four million Afghans.

He had said that Pakistan fought a war with Russia for Afghans and was now fighting against terrorism.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, while addressing a press conference about the attack on the Pakistani consulate, had had said that the National Database and Registration Authority’s chairman had been tasked to review the attack’s footage and check whether any Pakistani citizen was involved or was just one nation’s people who attacked.

Tarar had said that if any Pakistani was found to be involved, then their ID card and passport would be blocked and strict action would be taken.