From Refugee Helper to Alleged Killer: The Tragic Turn of Events in Bad Oeynhausen

In Germany, a Syrian refugee who has been living there for years has been accused of taking a young life. Mwafak A., an 18-year-old man from Syria, allegedly beat Philippos Tsanis (20) to death in the spa gardens of Bad Oeynhausen. The victim’s mother, who had previously been active in helping Ukrainian war refugees and even housed them in her home, is devastated by the loss of her son.

In March 2022, the mother drove to Poland in her pickup truck to pick up at least four refugees from Ukraine, motivated by her family connections to the country and the horrors they were enduring. Her son Philippos also assisted in packing the truck with relief supplies.

Tragically, Philippos’s life came to a brutal end when Mwafak A., who had a history of police investigations but had never been to prison, allegedly attacked and killed him. A judge issued an arrest warrant, and Mwafak A. is currently detained in a correctional facility for adolescents in Herford, North Rhine-Westphalia. The community is shocked by the tragic loss of Philippos and the alleged involvement of a fellow refugee in his death.