Clan raid in Delmenhorst: Police arrest suspected burglars!

Clan raid in Delmenhorst: Police arrest suspected burglars!

On Tuesday morning, heavily armed and masked police officers caused a stir in the central urban area of ​​Delmenhorst. A large-scale search operation put three suspects behind bars who are suspected of being involved in a serious residential burglary in Haren (Ems). The arrested men, aged 24 (two are twins) and one 42, were later remanded in custody after being brought before a magistrate. According to the Osnabrück public prosecutor's office and the Emsland/County of Bentheim police station, the burglary occurred on March 10th, during which valuables in the mid-five-figure euro range were stolen. Several residential and commercial properties were searched during the raid and evidence was seized, which now needs to be evaluated. The aim of the campaign: to combat criminal clan structures, which have increasingly come into the focus of the security authorities in recent years.

Background on clan crime

The raid in Delmenhorst is part of a current wave of measures against so-called clan crime, which is a growing problem in Germany. However, political scientist Mahmoud Jaraba warns against using the term “clan” too simply. In many cases, criminal networks with Arab, Turkish or Kurdish roots are portrayed as homogeneous groups, which, according to Jaraba, is a misleading perspective. In reality, these structures have changed over decades and are often more complex than you think. Members of these extended families often live both in a subculture and in strong networks with the majority society. Jaraba emphasizes that not all members are criminals and many resist the stigma associated with the term “clan”.

Another aspect of clan crime is the emergence of so-called “sub-sub-clans” that operate within the larger family structures. While some clan members engage in criminal activities such as theft, fraud or drug trafficking, the majority of members reject such acts and demand separation from these few perpetrators. However, statistics show a worrying increase in organized crime in Germany. The current survey shows that 642 investigations into organized crime have already been initiated in 2023, with a significant proportion of these proceedings relating to drug trafficking

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Fight against the clichés

Politicians have a responsibility to sharpen the picture of these complex phenomena. Since the security authorities in Lower Saxony, Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia do not generally classify clan crime as organized crime, it is important to question the clichés surrounding these groups. There are countless examples of clan members running successful, legitimate businesses and even being active on social media like TikTok. These networks often bring family members into contact with business people or lawyers, which further puts the image of an insular clan into perspective. Parts of society should develop a more differentiated understanding of the complex social dynamics in order not to criminalize families across the board.

In summary, the raid in Delmenhorst shows that the security authorities are taking decisive action against clan crime. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether politicians are prepared to take the necessary steps to get to the root of these problems. The focus should be on preventive measures that aim to strengthen families as well as to specifically combat criminal activities.