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2w ago

Berlin Police Face Scrutiny Over Protest Punch as Cologne Anti-War March Turns Violent

Irish diplomatic concern follows videos of a Berlin officer striking a demonstrator, prompting a review of whether the force was proportionate.

Das vom Innenministerium des Saarlandes zur Verfügung gestellte Handout zeigt den Sarg des in Völklingen erschossenen Polizisten, Polizeioberkommissar Simon B.
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Blumen und Kerzen stehen an einem Bahngebäude. Nach dem Tod einer 16-Jährigen am Bahnhof Friedland sitzt ein Mann per Unterbringungsbefehl in einer psychiatrischen Klinik.
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Overview

  • Berlin police say the officer seen striking a woman at an unauthorized pro‑Palestine gathering has been identified and his actions are under internal review, with no criminal case opened at this stage.
  • The injured demonstrator was treated on site and is reported by Irish sources to be an Irish national; the Irish ambassador contacted German authorities, while claims of a broken arm and planned surgery remain unconfirmed.
  • Officers detained or checked 94 people and opened 96 investigations tied to the Berlin operation, including suspected use of extremist symbols, resistance, bodily harm and insults.
  • In Cologne, police stopped the “Rheinmetall entwaffnen” march after reported attacks on officers and repeated assembly breaches, using tear gas and batons; 12 officers were injured, identities were recorded into the night and several people were taken into custody.
  • Police resources were heavily taxed by overlapping events, with Berlin’s Saturday protests proving smaller and largely calm, while Frankfurt drew about 11,000 to a Gaza rally where a speaker is under investigation for Holocaust trivialization.