Despite a ban on demonstrations, around 1,000 people came together for a pro-Palestinian rally in Berlin. The police eventually broke up the demonstration.
Despite a ban on gatherings, around 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on Potsdamer Platz in Berlin-Mitte on Sunday afternoon. Many carried Palestine flags and posters critical of Israel.
As a police spokesman said, emergency services asked the participants to leave the square. Instead, according to the spokesman, even more people initially came. The place was only cleared in the evening.
As a police spokesman said, the emergency services tried to get the “ringleaders” out of the crowd. There were scuffles, objects were thrown, and the police used pepper spray. At least one officer was reportedly injured by a kick in the abdomen. Several participants were arrested. The demonstrators finally left in small groups, accompanied by police officers who were supposed to prevent new gatherings, according to a police spokesman. The operation was over, the spokesman said at around 8 p.m.
Berlin police break up pro-Palestine demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate
There have been pro-Palestinian gatherings and anti-Semitic graffiti in Berlin for days. On Saturday the police broke up a small demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate. Groups also came together in Neukölln.more
Authorized vigil hijacked
The police had issued a ban on gatherings for a demonstration planned for October 12th at Potsdamer Platz because anti-Semitic or extremist content was feared in connection with the Middle East conflict. She viewed the demonstration on Sunday as a so-called replacement meeting, which was also banned.
A vigil with around 50 participants was originally registered and approved at Potsdamer Platz. After it began, this event was “hijacked” by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, according to a police spokesman. The organizer of the vigil then declared the meeting over – and at the same time identified himself as the leader of the new meeting, the police spokesman continued.
There have been repeated demonstrations in the last few days
Police have banned gatherings at which anti-Semitic or extremist content is feared related to the Middle East conflict until October 17. This also applies to so-called substitute meetings. The background is the terrorist attack by the Palestinian Hamas Israel and Israeli counterattacks.
The Berlin police had already on Saturday Several gatherings of pro-Palestinian demonstrators broke up. There were smaller gatherings with dozens of people at the Brandenburg Gate and in Neukölln, among other places.
On Friday there were around Sonnenallee in Neukölln despite a ban on demos 150 people gathered, some of whom carried Palestinian flags or symbols. The police broke up the meeting. According to the information, 24 people were temporarily taken into custody. There were criminal charges for breach of the peace, physical assault, resistance to law enforcement officers, disturbing the public peace and other offenses.
The attack on Israel and the developments in Berlin and Brandenburg
Bundeswehr flies Germans out of Israel +++ Demonstration on Saturday at the Brandenburg Gate dissolved +++ Schools are allowed to ban Palestinian symbols +++ All regional developments in the news blogmore
Stars of David on houses and burned Israeli flag
In addition, pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic graffiti have been discovered throughout the city for days. The police reported new cases on Sunday. These included painted Stars of David, including on residential buildings on Paul-Linke-Ufer in Kreuzberg and on a wheelchair ramp in Friedrichshain.
On Planufer in Kreuzberg, a crossed-out Star of David was found on a house wall in the middle of the night, and a car was burning in the immediate vicinity, the police said. It was unclear whether the two were related. In Hellersdorf, young people took an Israeli flag from a flagpole and set it on fire, it was said.
Broadcast: rbb24 Abendschau, October 15, 2023, 7:30 p.m
