Neo-Nazis attack teens on school trip in Saxony

BERLIN, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A teenage boy was hospitalized after a group of neo-Nazis attacked a group of students on a school trip in eastern Germany, officials said.

The teenage students from Hamburg were attacked Friday after they sneaked out of their youth hostel room to attend a celebration in rural Saxony, Germany's version of The Local reported Tuesday.

The celebration of the town of Ostrau's 888th birthday was advertised around the area and caught some of the students' attention, the Welt reported. However, the party also was a draw for far-right activists because number 88 is significant in Nazi circles -- H is the eighth number in the alphabet and 88 stands for HH, "Heil Hitler."

Several men then followed the teens back to their hostel, teachers said. Three entered the facility.

One pupil told the Welt that when he went to use the bathroom, the three men followed him and threw him into a urinal.

Another boy, a 15-year-old of Chinese descent, reportedly was beaten and sustained a broken eye socket and jaw. He was taken to hospital and has been in intensive care since Sunday, The Local said.

After the attack, neo-Nazis stood outside the hostel shouting, "NSDAP! We will never forget." The NSDAP, National Socialist German Workers Party, was the ruling Nazi party during World War II.

Police said they arrested nine suspects and have begun an investigation.