Berlin police say a group of people in the German capital is suspected of assaulting a Jewish Syrian wearing a necklace with a star of David.

Police said Sunday that the 25-year-old victim says he got into an argument after asking a group of men and women for a lighter for his cigarette. He says one of the men discovered the necklace, launched into anti-Semitic insults and punched him. The victim ran off but fell, and was punched and kicked by several people in the group in the incident early Saturday.

The group of seven men and three women, including six Syrians and three German nationals, was detained after passers-by intervened then released pending further investigation. Concern has been rising lately about anti-Semitism in Germany.

(AP)