Dutch school pupils arrested by German anti-terrorism police

Two school pupils from the Bonhoeffer College in Enschede were arrested by German anti-terrorism police during a field trip to Berlin last week, the school confirmed to NU.nl. They were released again after it was determined that the two boys were Dutch.

The Telegraaf reports that the arrest was accompanied by a "great show of force". The officers were wearing balaclavas and were carrying heavy weapons. The arrests were made as three pupils left the hotel in which they were staying. One looked so young that he was sent back into the hotel. The other two were arrested. They were taken away to be screened.

According to the school, the two kids were simply "in the wrong place at the wrong time".

The police later gave an explanation at the hotel. The officers justified the action as "necessary to keep Berlin safe". Exactly why the boys were arrested is unclear.

Anti-terrorism units were activated in Berlin after an attack on a Christmas market in the German capital in December.