German minister: Mistakes made in Chemnitz suspects’ cases

Mistakes were made in the cases of two asylum-seekers accused in the slaying of a German man that sparked large-scale far-right protests, Germany’s top security official says.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer says poor communication between Germany’s migration office and other authorities mean the deadline was missed to return Iraqi Yousif A. to Bulgaria, the country responsible for his case under European rules that say migrants must apply for asylum in the country where they first enter the EU.

Seehofer says there were also cooperation issues between authorities in the case of Syrian Alaa S.

He says changes he has instituted in how Germany deals with migrants, including new centers being set up in border areas to process people quickly, should help stop similar failings in the future.

The men, whose last names weren’t disclosed, are being held on manslaughter charges in the August 26 fatal stabbing of 35-year-old Daniel Hillig, which sparked anti-migrant protests in the city of Chemnitz that shocked many in Germany and beyond. On Tuesday Saxony state authorities said they are seeking a third suspect in the killing, identified only as an asylum-seeker from Iraq.

— AP