CRI听力:'Arson Attack' Destroys Asylum Shelter in Germany

Investigators say Tuesday's fire in Nauen, west of Berlin, was started deliberately.

No-one was injured in the incident and Police are still searching for the culprits.

Far-right protesters have been demonstrating against asylum seekers in the area in recent days.

The attack comes just days after violent protests took place near another asylum shelter in the town of Heidenau near Dresden over the weekend.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the behavior of far-right activists was "abhorrent" and "shameful"

"I want to repeat it again that I condemn in the strongest possible terms the violent outbursts. There was an aggressive mood against foreigners there that isn't acceptable in any way. It's repulsive how far-right extremists and neo-Nazis are spreading their hollow message, but it's equally shameful how citizens - even families with children - support this by marching along."

Merkel will visit Heidenau later today.

More than 30 police were injured in clashes there when a mob of several hundred people - some shouting "Heil Hitler" - pelted officers with bottles and fireworks.

The number of attacks on temporary asylum shelters in Germany has risen sharply this year, with around 200 incidents reported so far.
On Tuesday, the headquarters of the Social Democrat Party (SPD) in Berlin was evacuated after a bomb threat.

It is not clear who was behind the threat and a search of the building found nothing suspicious.

But SPD Secretary General Yasmin Fahimi says they have received many threats from right-wing extremists after the party chairman and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel visited Heidenau on Monday.

"Irrespective of this bomb threat, we have received a flood of racist emails over the past 24 hours, some of them with criminal content which we will follow up on and report to the police. We believe that this bomb threat against Willy-Brandt-Haus is a part of this hate and violence."

Germany is the top destination for hundreds of Asylum seekers - mainly from sub Saharan Africa, Syria and Afghanistan.
Abdul Munir Rahimi is a migrant from Afghanistan.

"The first time we want to go to Germany, if Germany accepts me I will stay there, and if Germany does not accept we will go to another country."

Munir's journey included a perilous boat ride from Libya to Greece and then making his way northwards on trucks, trains and on foot.
He is currently in Hungary, but plans to head towards Germany.

Germany is the EU's biggest recipient of asylum seekers.

The country is expecting to take in 800,000 refugees, which is equivalent to almost 1 percent of its population, this year alone.

Europe is struggling to come up with a resettlement program to distribute thousands of asylum seekers currently in detention centers mainly in Italy and Greece and now in Hungary and Macedonia.

But they have failed to come up with an agreement so far.