Five Syrian asylum seekers have been accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl in a horrific attack. The incident is reported to have happened on Saturday morning last week in the German town of Heinsberg, near the Dutch border.

An investigation has been launched by the public prosecutor's office in Aachen, with the men currently in police custody. The prosecutor's office said the suspected perpetrators are between the ages of 17 and 26. The teenage girl told police she was attacked and raped after she had been lured to the apartment of one of the suspects in Heinsberg.

Her horrific ordeal began when her ex-boyfriend picked up her up in his car, after the pair had agreed to meet up.

As she got into the car, three other men suddenly appeared and also climbed into the vehicle. The three men were later joined by another two suspects, who allegedly raped the teenager in an apartment.

Her ex-boyfriend is reported not to have taken part in the sexual assault.

The young victim - who is not German but whose nationality has not been revealed - later told a friend about the alleged sex crime and her parents alerted the police.

A search of the apartment uncovered a taser and pistol, which were allegedly used to threaten the 17-year-old.

Officers arrested four of the five suspects immediately after the alleged rape, while a fifth later turned himself in.

The five Syrians are thought to have been living in Germany for a considerable amount of time.

An investigating judge has remanded the suspects in custody, as police carry out their investigations. Officers are checking to see if the men have been involved in other crimes. The suspects apparently already have a track record with the cops.

It comes as Germany reported a rise in violent crimes in 2024, with a sharp increase in rapes and sexual assaults.