Chaotic protests in Berlin: 80 arrests and injured police officers!

Chaotic protests in Berlin: 80 arrests and injured police officers!

On October 11, 2025, the Berlin police attended several meetings on the topic of the Middle East conflict in the Mitte, Wedding and Tiergarten districts. The operation involved around 300 police officers to ensure the peaceful exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of assembly. Despite the predominantly peaceful participants, there were disturbances and crimes that characterized events. What was particularly noticeable was that several people poured red paint onto the facade of the Foreign Office and put a lettering on it. Four of these people - three women aged 27, 38 and 45 and a 26-year-old man - were temporarily arrested by federal police, but were later detained again at a rally at the same location, where one of the women was resisting.

In the afternoon, a larger gathering at Alexanderplatz led to an increase in the number of participants to up to 800 people. While one vigil went off without a hitch, other gatherings experienced significant disruption, including attempts to get in after counter-rallies. Pyrotechnics were set off and tram tracks were blocked, while emergency services were attacked with firecrackers, bottles and stones. In this aggressive atmosphere, 80 people were arrested and criminal proceedings were initiated against them for particularly serious breaches of the peace, resistance and damage to property.

Police operation and arrests

Police reported that several gatherings related to the Middle East conflict also took place last weekend. Both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel rallies were organized on a Saturday. The pro-Palestinian gathering under the motto "Solidarity with Palestine. Stop the Gaza genocide. No weapons for Israel" started with around 150 participants and grew to around 350. On the other hand, two pro-Israel rallies took place, which took place with comparatively lower numbers of participants and without disruptions. A total of around 330 emergency services were on site.

The police took action against participants in the pro-Palestinian rally who wore masks or made prohibited statements. As a result, 36 measures for deprivation of liberty were taken and 33 criminal proceedings were initiated, including bodily harm and the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations. There was also a spontaneous meeting in Kreuzberg on Sunday, which was eventually broken up after anti-Israel slogans were chanted.

Growing concerns about freedom of assembly

In this context, Amnesty International expresses concern about the restrictions on freedom of assembly in Germany. According to their report, the right to freedom of assembly is increasingly threatened by preventive measures, repressive legislation and law enforcement. Climate activists in particular are increasingly exposed to repression. In Berlin, numerous demonstrations, such as those around Nakba Remembrance Day in May 2023, were banned. Paula Zimmermann, an expert on freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, emphasizes that protests are increasingly perceived as a threat to public safety and calls on governments to comprehensively protect freedom of assembly.

On October 11, 2025, the police reported a total of 61 criminal complaints and seven administrative offenses as a result of the clashes, while ten police officers were injured but were able to continue their duties. The ongoing events highlight the tensions in Berlin and the challenges arising from the current political situation.