According to Tagesspiegel research, the allegations were known to both the youth club and the responsible youth welfare office of the district office for months.

The Youth Welfare Office consciously decided against reporting the case – in order to protect perpetrators

Even when the facility and the youth welfare office found out about the rape allegation in mid-January, those responsible did not call the police or file a criminal complaint.

On the contrary: the youth welfare office consciously decided against informing the police. Internally, this was justified by the fact that investigations marginalized young people of Arab origin. “Bild” first reported about it.

According to Tagesspiegel research, the police are investigating eight boys; they are said to be between 15 and 19 years old. They are said to have already been known to the police, especially with youth group violence.

Youth Welfare Office admits mistakes

The youth welfare office announced an investigation on Wednesday – and admitted errors. The State Criminal Police Office (LKA) and the Berlin public prosecutor’s office are investigating.

“The youth welfare office did not file a criminal complaint about the rape and sexual violence against the young people. Based on what we know today, that was a mistake,” said the responsible city councilor Sarah Nagel (Left). The suspected perpetrators are no longer allowed to enter the facility. She has now filed a criminal complaint and initiated an investigation into the events. “The aim is to provide complete information and, above all, effective measures to protect young people in Neukölln,” says Nagel.

17-year-old is said to have raped a student

In January, the boys are said to have carried the Turkish-Kurdish student into a back room of the youth club on Wutzkyallee, thrown her onto a couch, taken turns lying on her, sexually moving her and touching the young person. Another boy is said to have been standing at the door. It was only when a staff member noticed the incident that the young people are said to have let go of the student.

A few days after the incident in the youth club, the 16-year-old also stated that she had been raped in the garden of the facility in the evening in November.

The then 17-year-old alleged perpetrator is said to have filmed the crime and threatened her: “I want to see you here every Monday, otherwise I will send this to your parents,” reports “Bild”. According to the report, other boys in the group found out about the video and followed the girl. Some of them also wanted to meet the young people’s 14-year-old sister.

Youth club wanted to “keep the ball flat” so that perpetrators are not stigmatized

Although the youth club and the youth welfare office were aware of the allegations, none of those responsible informed the police, reports “Bild”. Internally in the youth club it was said that they wanted to “keep the ball low” so that the alleged perpetrators would not be stigmatized across the board with the statement “typical Muslims”. Instead, the door to the back room in the facility was hung and a safe word was agreed upon with the visitors, which they could use in the event of a threat.

When asked, a spokesman for the Neukölln district office did not want to confirm the accusation made by “Bild” that the youth club had wanted to “keep the ball low” on the alleged rape internally out of fear of blanket stigmatization of the young, Muslim suspects. However, he admitted that neither employees of the youth club nor the youth welfare office informed the police or filed a report despite being aware of the allegations.

Youth Welfare Office explains the lack of reporting

The youth club informed the youth welfare office right up to the head of the office immediately after the allegations became known, the spokesman said. However, according to information from the Tagesspiegel, the notice there initially disappeared. The responsible Neukölln youth councilor Sarah Nagel (Left) was only informed on March 2nd, the spokesman for the district office said.

“The youth welfare office did not file a report because the youth welfare office does not know the names of either the victim or the perpetrator,” the Neukölln administration explained to “Bild” the authorities’ lack of intervention.

As the “Bild” newspaper reports, the young person made a video statement in order not to have to describe the incidents several times. Police officers then immediately went out to confiscate the 17-year-old alleged perpetrator’s cell phone. According to the report, the 16-year-old’s father not only filed a complaint against the young person, but also submitted online complaints against those responsible in the youth club and to the authorities.

When asked, a spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office simply stated that the authority had taken over the procedure. “To protect the investigation, no further information can be provided at this time,” said the spokesman.

Senator demands clarification

Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) called for clarification on Wednesday: “What is in the reports should be true. The police reacted immediately and immediately sent it to the State Criminal Police Office. The cooperation between the police, the LKA and the public prosecutor’s office worked very well,” said Spranger. “What didn’t work must be clarified by the district office, the responsible city councilor and the responsible Senate administration. Clarification in this case would be very important.” Police Chief Barbara Slowik Meisel also said that the criminal police took action immediately when they were informed.

“I have requested information about the case from the district office. We are considering a case conference to review the processes. We will also have to check whether we can initiate supervisory measures,” said Youth State Secretary Falko Liecke (CDU) to the Tagesspiegel. He also announced to “Bild” that he would examine possible criminal consequences with regard to violations of child protection.