Berlin Police Investigate Data Breach After Suspects’ Names Leaked

A list of names from the Silvesternacht arrests was shared with a right-wing portal, prompting internal investigations and political backlash.

The Berlin police are investigating the unauthorized release of a list containing the names of 256 individuals detained during Silvesternacht, which was published by the right-wing portal 'Nius'.
Preliminary analysis indicates that approximately 65% of the names on the list are of Arab or Turkish origin, reigniting debates about crime and migration in Germany.
The leak has been condemned as a severe breach of data privacy, with Berlin’s police emphasizing that such actions contravene ethical and legal standards.
Political leaders, including members of the SPD, Greens, and Left Party, have criticized the leak as fueling discriminatory narratives, while the AfD has used the data to push its anti-immigration agenda.
The Landeskriminalamt is leading the investigation into the leak, with potential disciplinary and legal consequences for those responsible within the police force.