Two Chinese tourists have been arrested in Berlin after making 'Hitler salutes' in Berlin.
The two male tourists were spotted giving the Nazi salute outside the Reichstag, the German parliament building, in the country's capital on Saturday.
They were reported to have been posing and taking photographs of each other outside the famous landmark.
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Criminal proceedings have now been launched against the men for 'using symbols of illegal organisations', police said in a statement. They were released on bail of €500 (£450) each.
The Reichstag in Berlin. Credit: PA
The men, who according to the BBC, are 36 and 49, could now face a prison sentence of up to three years or be handed a fine.
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A police spokesperson told AFP that the men were free to leave the country during the investigation, adding that if a fine is issued, the bail money they had already paid would be likely enough to cover it.
Germany has very strict laws surrounding hate speech and symbols linked to Hitler and the Nazis. Laws were bought in banning the salute or displaying Nazi symbols shortly after the end of the Second World War.
It is an offence to display Nazi symbols or perform the salute in Germany. Credit: PA
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This isn't the first time a tourist has got into trouble with the law for performing the salute. Back in 2011, a 30-year-old Canadian tourist was arrested after giving the Nazi salute outside the German parliament building in Berlin. He was fined, after spending several hours in custody.
In 2013, German artist Jonathan Meese sparked a huge debate after he gave the salute on stage and claimed it was fine to do so, as it was art.
Under the German constitution, there is an article which says: "Art and science, research and teaching shall be free," but there is also a section which forbids "the use of symbols of unconstitutional organisations," with Hitler and the Nazis coming top of that list.
German artist Jonathan Meese who was arrested after doing the Nazi salute on stage. Credit: PA
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Many critics said that if Meese normalised the Nazi salute on stage, that would help to normalise it off stage, too.
However, a court accepted that the gesture was part of an 'interview-turned-art performance' and Meese was acquitted.
Sources: BBC; Independent
Featured Image Credit: PA