Riots in Berlin: Hundreds arrested during protests over the Middle East conflict

Riots in Berlin: Hundreds arrested during protests over the Middle East conflict

On Thursday and the night of Friday, October 3, 2025, the Berlin police accompanied several gatherings that took place in the context of the Middle East conflict. Around 300 police officers were deployed in the Mitte, Wedding and Tiergarten districts. While many participants peacefully exercised their basic right to freedom of assembly, there were also disruptions, crimes and attacks on the emergency services. However, according to police statements, not all protests were peaceful.

At midday, four people - three women aged 27, 38 and 45 and a 26-year-old man - were arrested by federal police after they threw red paint on the facade of the Foreign Office and attached a lettering. Although they were temporarily arrested and sent off, a short time later they took part in a rally in front of the Foreign Office again, which led to further arrests. One of the women resisted.

Clashes and injuries

Starting in the afternoon, several rallies with up to 800 participants took place at Alexanderplatz. While one vigil passed without incident, there were significant disruptions at other gatherings. Some participants tried to advance to a counter-rally, which further inflamed the situation. Pyrotechnics were used and about 60 people blocked tram tracks, ignoring police requests to evacuate.

The police reported attacks with firecrackers, bottles and stones on the emergency services, with one officer being hit in the helmet by a stone. A total of 80 people were arrested. Those responsible are now facing charges of particularly serious breach of the peace, resistance and physical attacks on law enforcement officers, as well as damage to property and violations of the Explosives Act. Ten police officers were also injured but were able to continue their duties.

Overview of the meetings

In the days before, at the weekend, the Berlin police also had to protect several gatherings in the context of the Middle East conflict. A total of three meetings took place on a Saturday. The pro-Palestinian gathering with the theme "Solidarity with Palestine. Stop the Gaza Genocide" attracted 150 participants but grew to around 350 people. This resulted in verbal disputes with participants in pro-Israel rallies. The police had to carry out numerous deprivations of liberty, including some for physical attacks and masked participants.

On Sunday evening, a spontaneous meeting in Kreuzberg that chanted anti-Semitic slogans was broken up. Overall, coercive measures were taken here to calm the situation.

References to restrictions on freedom of assembly

The incidents shed light on the debate about freedom of assembly in Germany. Amnesty International recently named the country for the first time in a list where the right to freedom of assembly is increasingly restricted. The organization criticizes the actions of the police, who sometimes perceive protests as a threat to public safety. Paula Zimmermann, an expert on freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, expresses concerns that protests are being increasingly criminalized. Amnesty International calls on politicians to comprehensively protect freedom of assembly, but also emphasizes that climate activists in particular are now exposed to considerable repression.

Police will continue to try to find a balance between maintaining public safety and protecting the right to freedom of assembly. A difficult undertaking at a time when public interest in political and social issues such as the Middle East conflict is so high.

A total of 61 criminal complaints and seven administrative offenses were filed in connection with the current events in Berlin. The situation calmed down around 10:30 p.m.