German prosecutors are investigating allegations of an “appalling level of racism and inhumanity” on the part of a Hannover police officer who allegedly bragged of abusing immigrants over social media.

Human rights group Pro Asyl condemned the alleged incidents and demanded an investigation into how many “accomplices in police uniform” knew of the violence, but remained silent.

In March of last year, the cop boasted of strangling and putting his fingers in the nose (yuck) of a 29-year old Afghan man detained for not carrying ID papers.  A few months later, the officer claimed he assaulted a 19-year old Moroccan and forced him to eat minced pork, a violation of Islamic dietary rules.  The cop uploaded a photo showing a handcuffed man lying on the floor, wincing in pain, and apparently restrained by at least two officers.

An anonymous police source quoted by the national broadcaster NDR said, “there was often screaming from the holding cells, and when it got too piercing (other police officers) didn’t look into it – they just shut the door, to stop the sound getting out.”

Germany has become Europe’s top destination for people fleeing war and poverty.  Last year, asylum requests rose 60 percent to more than 200,000 – and the government expects that number to more than double this year.