A 20-year-old German national, beaten into a coma on Sunday evening by several members of a migrant gang, has died in hospital as a result of his injuries.
Philippos and his 19-year-old friend were returning home from a graduation party in the North Rhine-Westphalia town of Bad Oeynhausen at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday when around 10 migrant males confronted them.
The pair were punched to the floor before being kicked as they lay defenseless on the ground.
As horrified witnesses called the police, the gang casually walked from the crime scene toward the town center.
The victims were hospitalized as a result of their injuries, but Philippos was particularly hurt and was induced into a protective coma which he sadly never woke up from.
Philippos was declared brain dead on Monday evening and died in Minden Hospital on Tuesday.
The Ratsgymnasium Minden confirmed that Philippos was the brother of one of its students and had been attending his sister’s graduation party at the facility shortly before he was attacked.
In a website post on Monday, the school wrote, “We were horrified to learn of the physical altercation in Bad Oeynhausen, in which a relative of a high school graduate from our school was critically injured.
“We are deeply saddened that this very festive day of dismissal and graduation for the students is overshadowed by these events.
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with the affected family,” it added.
The Class of ’24 who were celebrating their graduation had set up a GoFundMe page for the victims and their families following the attack, which has now raised more than €61,000 at the time of writing.
The fundraising has temporarily been disabled following the news of Philippos’ death.
Police continue to search for the suspects and have urged the attackers to hand themselves in.
According to a press release by Bielefeld Police Headquarters, the migrant gang comprised around 10 people, all of whom were male and between 19 and 20 years old. They were described as “Southern,” a phrase often used in Germany to describe men of Maghreb or Arab origin. Some were dressed in Adidas designer tracksuits.
An initial investigation launched into bodily harm and attempted homicide involving serious bodily harm is now expected to be upgraded to homicide. It is being conducted by the Bielefeld public prosecutor’s office and the homicide unit of Bielefeld Police.