Canadian tourist arrested for giving Nazi salute in Berlin

The 30-year-old Canadian was standing on the steps of the German parliament building with his right arm raised as his girlfriend, 29, photographed him in the forbidden pose.

The 30-year-old Canadian was standing on the steps of the German parliament building with his right arm raised as his girlfriend, 29, photographed him in the forbidden pose.

Police arrived within seconds, handcuffed him and took the memory card of the camera.

He risked being formally charged with making a forbidden gesture, an offence for which he could have been jailed for up to six months.

But it is understood he will be let off with a fine and a warning. He was freed after several hours in police custody on Saturday after paying bail money.

Hundreds of tourists every year make the mistake of thinking that Monty Pythonesque jokes about Hitler and his henchmen โ€“ including giving his famous raised-arm salute โ€“ are acceptable when visiting Germany. But any gestures of the old Nazi regime, or the displaying of any of its symbols, is a s serious crime in modern-day Germany. Three years ago a British businessman at Cologne airport gave the salute to a car hire official โ€“ and was arrested immediately.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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