BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Police temporarily arrested more than 400 people on Sunday in connection with rallies in Berlin about the Middle East conflict. The measures took place on Sunday evening at Potsdamer Platz and Alexanderplatz, as the police announced on Monday. According to the information, there were three registered rallies and several calls across the city in connection with the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on Israel on October 7th. Around 1,600 police officers were deployed for this purpose, including officers from Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and the federal police.
A pro-Palestinian demonstration at Potsdamer Platz was banned by the police. Nevertheless, according to the police, around 300 people gathered. Many did not leave the place voluntarily. According to the police, around 700 people came to a permitted gathering at Alexanderplatz. Slogans were chanted. During the course of the operation, there were 232 preliminary arrests, the police said. 25 criminal complaints were filed and 175 administrative offenses were registered.
According to the police, the largest demonstration on Sunday in front of the Brandenburg Gate went largely without disruption. However, four people showed up with flags with anti-Israel content. Action was taken against this and investigations were initiated. According to the police, around 10,000 people came to the large rally against anti-Semitism and for solidarity with Israel.
On Sunday evening, the police again recorded several cases of property damage in connection with the Middle East conflict. In the Moabit district, a fire was discovered on a flagpole on which an Israeli flag was hoisted. There was a stone thrown at the Jewish Hospital in Wedding./mvk/DP/ngu