By Axel Lier
They were shocking images: three Berlin patrol officers removing posters showing hostages kidnapped by Hamas from an advertising column in Friedrichshain. According to the police, an imprint was missing and there was suspicion of property damage. It is now clear who ordered the demolition.
According to BZ information, there were three patrol officers from Section 51 on Wedekindstrasse (Friedrichshain) who went on duty in the late afternoon of October 26th. Her responsible “W1” – the officer who coordinated the security and radio car operations that day – had asked her to do so.
He himself had recently been informed by police officers from the hotspot and presence unit (BPE) about these posters at the intersection of Sonntagstrasse and Lenbachstrasse. But they were currently tied up in an operation and could not take action themselves.
The three patrol officers looked at the hostage posters, contacted state security and asked for an assessment. State security is responsible when it comes to politically motivated crime.
State security officials decided to remove the posters
As BZ learned, the leading and experienced official in the permanent state security service decided: The posters must be removed! Apparently she classified this as property damage – and the three patrol officers did as they were ordered.
“We took action because of the suspicion of prohibited posters and thus damage to property,” a BZ police spokeswoman confirmed in response to the renewed request. It was discovered that the posters also had no imprint. There is also suspicion of a violation of the press law.
The video on X (formerly Twitter) that showed the police action against the posters of Israeli hostages triggered a wave of horror on Tuesday. Police Chief Barbara Slowik (57) spoke up early in the evening, saying that as police chief it was absolutely understandable to her “that by taking down the posters, feelings were triggered, especially by people in the Israeli/Jewish community, but also by the relatives of the hostages , were injured. This affects me and I deeply regret it.”