Family attacked for flying German flag

Seb Ramsay

June 17, 2006

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TARGETED: Axel Hellwig's flag behind the smashed window

A GERMAN engineer was left shocked and upset after yobbish England fans threw a brick at the front window of his family home where he was displaying his national flag.

Axel Hellwig, 37, was flying the German flag at his Bramhall semi-detached house when it was targeted moments after England's victory over Trindad and Tobago. Mr Hellwig's Brazilian wife Josedna, 38, was also displaying her national flag in the same window.

The couple and their sons, aged two years and seven months, were all unhurt but are now considering moving away from the area.

The brick smashed the window but failed to shatter it. Axel, who works in Longsight, said: "I heard this crash and when I went to the window there were two youths running away - one was wearing an England flag as a cape.

Gesture

"We came here because I thought it was a safe place for a family but now I don't know if it is. We like England and we just thought it was a good gesture to put up the flags."

Axel, who did not want to be photographed for fear of further attacks, said he had lived all over the world but never had such problems.

A police spokeswoman confirmed the attack had been reported.

BRITISH police in Germany have praised the behaviour of England fans at the World Cup.

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers said: "The behaviour of English fans has been pretty exemplary and given the huge numbers here the arrest figures have been pleasingly low."

Twenty-eight England fans were detained or arrested in Nuremberg before, during and after Thursday's victory over Trinidad and Tobago. Most of these have now been released.

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Angry McNasty, City Centre (17/06/2006 at 12:56)

Something about the England national team that brings out the worst in people, combine that to lots of booze, sunshine and a terrible game and something like this was going to happen.

Its digusting, but sadly hanging a german flag up in a Longsight window aint smart either, there shouldnt be a problem with it but as I say the national team bring out the worst in some!!

Nigel, Portsmouth (17/06/2006 at 13:21)

What a brainless thing to do! This couple's children could have been hurt - or even killed. What would these cretins have had to say for themselves if they'd been facing a possible charge of attempted or actual murder?

David, Manchester (17/06/2006 at 13:35)

The house is in leafy Bramhall, not Longsight. No excuse at all for this behaviour, those kids could've been harmed.

terry, manchester (17/06/2006 at 13:47)

It makes you ashamed to be British everytime you here of something like this happening.They bring nothing but shame on this country,if they are lucky enough to get caught, what will they get?a tap on the wrist.To correct the previous respondant the family live in Bramhall not Longsight,& it shouldnt matter where you live you shouldnt have to put up with this sort of behaviour.

PW, Manchester (17/06/2006 at 14:01)

It's got nothing to do with patriotism or support for the national team. It has got everything to do with empty-headed simpletons, who probably couldn't find Germany on a map of Europe. I'm sure the German chap recognises this.

Ian Roberts, Pendleton, Salford (17/06/2006 at 14:17)

For many years we have had various politically correct organisations objecting to any showing of national pride lest it be interpreted as racist. This year a lot of the country has expressed it's support of the England by flying the cross of St George in various forms. If we didn't have the other teams playing in the world cup there would be no world cup so please respect those who feel as passionately about their own country as much as you do.
I still want to wear my England Baseball Cap as a matter of pride and support not hate and intimidation.

Andy, Berlin ex-Stockport (17/06/2006 at 14:49)

This aptly demonstrates some of the reasons why I left Stockport - a cultural wasteland of a town populated for the most part by simplistic yuppies and brainless scallies but hey, you gotta be born somewhere. Personally hope England get stuffed by the Germans - just to rile the jingoists.

James, London (17/06/2006 at 16:16)

Double standard here. Could you just imagine the zeal and outrage by Greater Manchester Police and the BBC if a house with the Pakistan flag on display was attacked ?

Parachef1, Walkden via Yeovil (17/06/2006 at 17:22)

If this attack was done in Oldham, the Police would have found the culprits in seconds for fear of a back lash. But ill guess nothing will be done to find them because hes is a German working for a better life for his wife and children. I only hope the culprits are brought to task by the local comunity and we dont here any more stories like these.

peter Jones, Hannover.Germany (17/06/2006 at 17:51)

I am Ashamed of these Scumbags!That's why we left England,years ago.Even in the 60's
I've witnessed crowd trouble at maine road and at Man u.I've never had any bother with my Saint George flag
over here.When i read the News.i am glad we went.When we did.WE shall not be coming back!It's like Dodge City!Prowlers by night.

bleeds, Manchester (17/06/2006 at 17:58)

I follow City home and away with Sale and we have a massive flag at those games with no bovver at all. A dizgusting incident.

Chris Davenport, Congleton (17/06/2006 at 18:26)

Disgusting! Those yobs should hang there heads in shame. I thought the World Cup was supposed to be be a celebration of Football, not an excuse for simple minded idiots to go on rampage. I feel ashamed by these event!!

mark, rochdale (17/06/2006 at 18:30)

yes very sad thicko not even england fans i think.
I mean in germany the fans up to 70,00 england fans are drinking and having a good party atmosphere with other nations and thers no hatred,no fighting,but back home the thicko jobless pricks still act like a neanderthal thug dragging theer knuckles behind them trailing supping stella,when will these people pleased get killed.

ROB, stockport (17/06/2006 at 19:01)

I dont think this has anything at all to do with political correctness,is it possible to have a debate about anything without that term being used?. Maybe we should just use the terms decency and respect,instead of political correctnesss.I dont consider myself p.c. but at the same time I hate racism,sexism and homophobia...and beleive all British citizens have rights and responsibilities.Whether Axel and his family are German,Pakistani or Jordanian the same rules apply.I feel sad and embarrassed that a few of my compatriots choose to act like Nazi s,during the world cup.Its a pathetic irony that a tiny number of England fans make outdated gestures towards Germans,based on the 1933-45 period,while acting like supporters of that regime.I hope the Hellwigs dont move out,most English people and England supporters are allright people.

Rob Casey, Maastricht (17/06/2006 at 20:50)

Stories like this make me ashamed of England. Over here there are several places with England flags in their windows - which are still intact. Im dreading the day I have to come back to the UK to live.

Jock, Manchester (17/06/2006 at 22:25)

Proves that the English can't really stand anyone else loving their country, despite all the waffling they do about the non existent 'pc lobby'. No one's stopping you flying your flags however much you wish they would so you'd have something else to whine and sob about, your favourite and only pastime!

MK Blue, MK (17/06/2006 at 23:18)

Absolutely disgraceful but not that surprising sadly. Just glad the family are all safe.
Reminiscent of the story about the Yobs that stoned the House of visiting Indian Youth Cricket Team in Belfast this week. Cowards picking on peaceful and decent people as ever.
Shows how far we have to go to educate the Young to respect and positively welcome visitors to our Country.
It's fun to show your colours and great to welcome other Flags too. These Numpties probably don't even know what the flags were.
I'm planning to go to Germany for the 1/4 Finals (If we get that far!).Let's hope that the Germans are more tolerant.
Let's not let a few Yobs stop all our progress made of late however. Eventually they will be shamed into silence.
Keep flying your colours but I'd keep it to the Car and Shirt till we grow up a bit more!
Not so long ago even wearing a scarf was dangerous.
We've actually come a long way in 30 years however. End of Term Report: "Much improvement... Still some way to go".

Sandra Jones, Kelowna, BC, Canada (18/06/2006 at 02:25)

I am appalled at this story, but not surprised in the slightest. My family and I now live in Canada and we have seen flags of every nation participating in the world cup being flown from cars, windows etc. We fly our Union Jacks from our Car and get so much support from people of other nations. The people of Canada think its a great sight to see people being proud of their home Countries.I am so glad those Children were not hurt. Shame on the culprits.

Robbo, Germany (18/06/2006 at 10:54)

As a Manc living and working in Germany Louts like these really do bug me, here you see plenty of folks with little England Flags on there cars or the one Petrol station with a big England flag in its shop and nobody says a thing, as a lot have said idiots like these are not need and if caught forget about fining them use the "Birch" on them maybe theey will then learn to respect others and there views.

Chris, Stalybridge (18/06/2006 at 23:35)

Just another example of what a foul country England actually is to live in....expensive and meaningless pomp and ceremony for an indolent monarchy living of all our backs in 19th century luxury....and a crazy economy up to its neck in debt with ruthless money-grubbing media moguls not even British printing lies day after day...no wonder our kids are so lousy.

Laugh Out Loud, Manchester (19/06/2006 at 08:00)

Lout behavior! Nothing more and nothing less. Ashamed to be English when idiots attach themselves to the George Flag in the name of jingo-istic football patriotism. Very sad indeed! Ha...

I Thomas, Stockport (19/06/2006 at 10:11)

It is not just mindless jobs insulting foreign nationals . I am German and I have lived in Stockport over 11 Years. I have had Nazi comments made at me by " Respectable English Pensioners".My children have had to put up with Nazi taunts at school by some fellow pupils.
But thankfully the majority of Mancunians are a nice bunch of people.
I for one do not regret moving from Germany to England.

Jane, Luxembourg (19/06/2006 at 10:12)

Have to agree with Andy to a certain extent here! Along my road in Luxembourg there are at least 10 different flags displayed from around the world, we smile as we drive past, marvel at the different nationalities who live in our village, putting a brick through there window is typically English!!

Gervaise, Ashton under Lyne (19/06/2006 at 11:59)

I went out yesterday and in my back yard was a lump of concrete that had been thrown, there was broken glass over the pavements and someone had tried to rip my wing mirrors off. A typical week-end where I live. I have still got the concrete if GMP want to DNA it.

louise, manchester (19/06/2006 at 12:30)

what on earth is wrong with people? I walked past our local village pub after England had won their latest match and drunken yobs were beating the hell out of eachother. What happens when we lose? They are all bonkers!!

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