A series of violent attacks on Syrian refugees by Kurdish groups across Europe was reported on Tuesday evening in Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, and the United Kingdom amid rising tensions over the collapse of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria.
The SDF includes Arab tribes and a scattering of Assyrian and Syriac Christian fighters, but the vast bulk of its forces come from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, the Syrian affiliate of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Videos circulating on social media show SDF and YPG supporters attacking people and businesses while shouting racist comments in several European cities. Many Syrians have reported physical assaults, property damage, and verbal harassment.
Literally everywhere “the Kurds” go they bring violence and destruction
This clip shows them on a rampage destroying cars and attacking people in France
France has been the strongest advocate for them and this is how they thanked them
Like animals
— HAMDI RIFAI حمدي الرفاعي (@HAMDIRIFAI) January 20, 2026
In Germany, YPG and SDF supporters took to the streets in several cities to protest against Syrian army operations in northeastern Syria. What began as demonstrations quickly escalated into violence, with protesters using firecrackers, pyrotechnics, and iron bars against police attempting to maintain order.
Businesses across Berlin, Dortmund, and other German cities reported vandalism, with Syrian-owned shops targeted in particular. The protests were followed by direct attacks on Syrians and assaults on individuals who identified as Syrian Arabs.
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One user wrote that “Kurdish migrants in Europe were making ‘Arab hunting’ compilations and proudly sharing them on social media.”
“These are the same people who cry ‘racist, fascist’ if you look at them wrong, such hypocrites! That’s kurdofascism in a nutshell for you,” the user added.
On Reddit, one user commented, “If anything, after all the protesting they did today, not only was it for nothing, it also proved that they do not deserve any recognition or sympathy from Germany. And they proved that today.”
Similar scenes unfolded in Zurich, Switzerland, where videos showed large groups of PKK supporters gathering in the streets.
“Here now are the streets of Zürich, terrorized and overrun by the barbarians of the fascist PKK that Europe has funded and supported. Yet you were sold the idea that these people were fighters for democracy,” another user wrote.
Kurds roaming European cities looking for Arabs to beat up shows how much of cowards these animals are.
For hundreds of years they lived together with Arabs in Baghdad, Damascus, Mosul without anyone touching them.
— GUDEA (@MaxedOutArab) January 21, 2026
In Manchester, UK, video footage captured a group of Kurdish individuals attacking a passerby for being Arab. The attackers could be heard screaming “f’ing Arab, f’ing Arab” as they pursued the victim.
“The Kurds are the most bigoted group of people… here they are in Manchester, England, demanding Syrians be killed as they attack a passerby for simply being Arab. This is how they ruled in Syria.”
Sweden and Austria also reported multiple incidents in which Syrian-owned businesses were vandalised, and Syrians were harassed.
One user questioned European foreign policy, stating: “It’s interesting that Europeans hate communists but support them if they destabilize the Middle East.”
Meanwhile, another user highlighted during the demonstrations that the “PKK/SDF have little real support inside #Syria. Most of their loudest backers are Kurds living safely abroad – Kurds who refuse to live under PKK rule themselves!”
Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the SDF lost a significant territory, including the key provinces of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour, earlier this week. The latest events in the country have also intensified tensions between Kurdish and Arab communities, both within Syria and across the diaspora.
