Nine Jewish tourists detained after trespassing at Auschwitz memorial site

Polish police have detained nine tourists from the United States and Canada after they allegedly trespassed on the grounds of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, authorities said.

Staff at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum noticed a group of young men who entered the memorial complex without tickets. Reports said the group pushed aside a fence before accessing the site, prompting museum staff to alert police. Officers detained the individuals in the nearby town of Oświęcim, Caliber.Az reports via Polish media. 

Law enforcement officials said those detained were Jewish US and Canadian citizens aged 18 to 19.

The detainees reportedly admitted to the offence and agreed to voluntary penalties. Under an agreement with the public prosecutor’s office, each was fined 3,000 Polish zloty and ordered to pay an additional 1,000 zloty to the museum.

By Sabina Mammadli