LÜGENPRESSE: Fear and paranoia lead Finns to form vigilante groups that ‘protect women’ from asylum seekers. “Protect women” in scare quotes, check. “Fear and paranoia,” check. It’s almost as if the author of this article from January 31, Anthony Faiola, and the authors of another article from February 2, consulted the same muse–or the same wire reports, anyway.

Blatantly slanted opening line, check: “On a frigid night in this industrial city, three local men pulled up to a curb in a beat-up van sporting the stars and bars of the American Confederacy (because, they said, they just liked the look of it).” A Confederate flag? Oh no!

“far-right citizens group . . . authorities are also worried about the rise of vigilante groups . . . includes known neo-Nazis and followers with criminal records” — Gawrsh.

“Critics say the danger is vastly exaggerated” — Now bend over!

“Just as worrying is a spate of hate crimes against asylum seekers” — Just as worrying!

Earlier: Unprecedented sex harassment in Helsinki at New Year, Finnish police report.

Related: Police announce crime statistics for asylum seekers – 47 suspected of sexual offenses. Finnish source here.

Foreigners suspected of rape offenses increased last year from the previous year from 180 to 240, says the National Police Board. . . .

There has been a lot of emergency responses at reception centers.

Foreigners suspected of assaults rose from 3200 to 4000.