German youths goad Somali teen refugee into killing himself

A 17-year-old Somali refugee living in Germany was goaded into jumping to his death by a number of youths in the eastern city of Schmöllner, German authorities said Sunday, expressing their shock at the incident.

The teen leaped to his death from the fifth floor of the building in which he was living on Friday, said to be a group home for youths aged 15-18, while onlookers called for him to “go on, jump,” German media reported.

Some of those onlookers recorded the suicide, later distributing videos and photos on social media.

Police were called to the scene to find the fear-stricken teenager sitting on the windowsill of his room Friday afternoon, but were not able to persuade him to step back.

“One less parasite then!” an onlooker reportedly yelled, while others called to him to “go on [and] jump!”

The teen jumped to his death, reportedly managing to avoid a safety mat laid out by firefighters who responded to the scene.

According to German media reports, the youth was undergoing treatment for psychological problems and had been discharged from a psychiatric hospital just hours prior to his death.

He had arrived in Germany in April as an unaccompanied minor, according to local media.

“We are all deeply shocked by the events and still cannot grasp what has happened,” a deputy leader of the local council, Matthias Bergmann, told German media.

Schmöllner Mayor Sven Schrade said: “One can only condemn such sentiments. Before he was a refugee or a Somali, he was a human being.”

It was not clear if those who appeared to cheer on the suicide will face charges.