A violent attack by three Syrian brothers in Hof over an unpaid €15 ice cream bill has left six people injured, including a 10-year-old girl, but the suspects have already been released from custody.

The men, aged 15, 19, and 25, all residing in the Helmbrechts district, had eaten ice cream at the Levante shop the previous week without paying. When they returned on Monday and again refused to settle the debt, the confrontation escalated.

TVO reported how the eldest brother struck the 42-year-old shop owner with a metal flagpole, while a 24-year-old employee and the owner’s daughter were also hurt in the scuffle. The 19-year-old migrant smashed furniture while the youngest brother tried to drag a table inside as the men rioted.

The brothers fled but were intercepted at Sonnenplatz. Witnesses told police one of the men might be armed with a knife, prompting officers to draw their service weapons. When the eldest brother resisted arrest and attacked an officer, pepper spray was used, and three officers were injured in the struggle. A passerby reportedly helped slow the man’s escape before police finally subdued him.

Remix News has posted footage of the arrest.

🇩🇪‼️ Syrian migrants at an ice cream parlor in Germany refused to pay their €15 bill and turned violent.

The incident happened on Monday in Hof. Three brothers, aged 15, 19, and 25, had been asked to settle their bill by the owner, and when they refused, he said he was calling… pic.twitter.com/R0Nsxjg2dF

— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) September 3, 2025

During the search, officers found a Tilidine tablet on the 19-year-old, leading to an additional investigation under the Narcotics Act. All three are known to police, with the eldest already convicted of property and assault offenses.

Despite the violence, the public prosecutor’s office determined there was no legal basis for pretrial detention. Prosecutors cited the men’s permanent residence in Helmbrechts and the absence of grounds such as risk of flight, obstruction of justice, or destruction of evidence. “As much as some might have wanted to take the men into custody, without a legal ground for detention, that is not possible,” Chief Inspector Patric Scheibel told Frankenpost.

The Levante ice cream parlor has since issued a statement thanking police and guests who assisted during the ordeal. “Although we offered to pay for the ice cream later, this time they provocatively told us that they wouldn’t pay. When we then said we would have to call the police, the situation escalated,” the statement read.

“A very special thank you also goes to our guests who were present on the terrace, supported us in this difficult situation, and helped us identify the perpetrators more quickly through their photos,” it added.

The brothers now face charges including grievous bodily harm, assault, resisting law enforcement, and violations of the Narcotics Act, but are free to roam while they await trial.