10 January 2008

Heilbronn, Germany (dpa) - A pensioner was hit on the head and knocked out Wednesday in Germany in an attack involving minority youths, further heating up debate about violence by immigrants.

The man, who was accompanied by his wife, had told off three men who were vandalizing a memorial plaque to a policewoman shot dead last year in the line of duty in the southwestern city of Heilbronn. He was hit by the men, fainted and was admitted to hospital.

Police in a helicopter and squad cars rounded up the accused, a 19-year-old Bosnian, a 16-year-old Turk and a 22-year-old German national. Police said the trio were drunk, had molested several other people and were repeat troublemakers.

Germans are debating a crackdown after an incident last month in which two minority youths cracked the skull of a retired school principal for telling them to obey a Munich smoking ban.

In other cases, train passengers were punched for asking minority youths to turn down loud music. State leaders have called for "warning-shot" detention for hooligans and instant deportation if those convicted do not hold German nationality.