Punch-ups in refugee accommodation in Berlin

Berlin - Punch-ups at refugee accommodation in the German capital and in the nearby state of Saxony-Anhalt in the east of the country have resulted in 12 people being treated at hospital for their injuries, officials said on Sunday.

At an emergency hostel in Berlin, residents attacked each other with their fists and fire extinguishers. "We took seven people to hospital," a fire service spokesperson said on Sunday morning.

An argument broke out among residents Saturday evening and escalated. The violence and "clouds from the extinguishers" caused panic, the spokesman said.

Around half of the 1 000 or so residents had to wait outside the building in the night-time cold until the situation calmed down.

The last residents could finally return to their beds in the early hours. There were indications of bodily injuries.

In another brawl at a refugee hostel in the village of Klietz near Stendal in Saxony-Anhalt five people were injured. A row broke out Saturday evening among several residents and escalated into a fistfight.

Police have launched an assault investigation.