Berlin police: "it was really relatively peaceful": the protests on 1 May left 18 vehicles on fire, shops attacked, and 93 police officers injured
The police speak of the “most peaceful May Day in Berlin for decades”. Despite hatred of Jews in the front row of the "Revolutionary May Day Demo" and violence against police officers. There were 50 arrests at the demo. The police also attribute the comparatively peaceful course of the May Day demonstrations to their operational tactics.
"Certainly it is also due to the participants in the 6 p.m. demo," said police chief Barbara Slowik on Monday on the RBB24 info radio. In addition, the police spoke intensively with the organizers in advance and also took their interests into account when planning the route.
A total of at least 18 vehicles were on fire, a police spokesman said on Monday morning.
In all cases, the police are assuming intentional arson, and the investigations are being carried out by the fire department of the State Criminal Police Office (LKA). According to the spokesman, it will be checked whether there is a connection to the May Day demonstrations. According to the police, there is no evidence of political motivation. These claims show that the German authorities are nothing more than a bunch of idiots in a state of unacceptable denial. Every 1 May has been a dayof violence and burning vehicles. There were organized marches and posters all over the city calling for a "class struggle." How can they still have doubts about it?
"At the same time, we made it very clear with very strict conditions: We will also take action and dissolve." There were also good concepts for the neuralgic point, the Kottbusser Tor.
According to this, 500 violent demo participants mingled with the 14,000 demonstrators.
Most police officers were injured in the evening after the end of the demonstration on Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg by throwing bottles and firecrackers. There, between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., left-wing autonomists dressed in black and other aggressive demonstrators attacked police officers several times. Most of the emergency personel suffered bruises and sprains.
A year ago, 93 police officers were injured, most of them lightly. In previous years, several hundred police officers had reported injuries, some after more violent street battles.
The organizers of the demonstration announced: "The police deliberately sought escalation at Oranienplatz because they could not simply leave the strong sign of solidarity of our demonstration standing." However, do not be intimidated. "We will continue to fight against this murderous capitalist system every day."
Clean-up work began on Monday morning in the streets along the demo route. "Compared to previous years and especially ten years ago, it was really relatively peaceful overall," said Slowik.
According to the police, a total of 123 investigations were initiated during the May holiday, including charges of breach of the peace, resistance to and assault on law enforcement officers, freeing prisoners and dangerous bodily harm.
According to official information, around 6,000 police forces from several federal states were deployed. Slowik left it open whether there would be a similarly large mission next year. "That has to be reassessed every time."
About 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators at May Day demonstration
Another excitement at the XXL demo day in Berlin: the leading role of the anti-Israel supporters. Around 200 pro-Palestinian representatives, mainly Turkish and Arab migrants, marched in the first block of the "Revolutionary May Day" demonstration.
They chanted "Free Palestine" and waved flags. The police are working on "individual anti-Israel videos on the web," police chief Barbara Slowik told rbb. The police are still checking whether there were anti-Semitic statements during the demonstrations.
"Such statements are directed against Israel's right to exist," said FDP interior expert Björn Jotzo to BZ Berlin. "They are absolutely unbearable on Berlin streets. The Berlin authorities must counter these excesses with full force.”
"Zero tolerance for anti-Semitic statements," affirmed Slowik.
At the same time, she emphasized: "With 14,000 participants, we cannot guarantee that there will be no speaking chorus anywhere."
She left open whether, as before May 1, further demonstrations by pro-Palestinian groups would be banned.
Source: B. Z. Berlin
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