Latest news with #FlorianNath
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police injured at Palestinian Nakba protest disturbances in Berlin
A pro-Palestinian march in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg on Thursday has been marred by violent clashes between demonstrators and police. A policeman was reportedly dragged into the crowd by aggressive demonstrators, trampled and seriously injured, police spokesman Florian Nath told dpa. The policeman was treated by an emergency doctor, provided with oxygen and painkillers, and taken to hospital. Nath also mentioned a defibrillator. Other officers were reportedly injured. At least one policeman was found to have broken bones in his hand. More than 30 demonstrators were arrested for various offences such as assaults, according to the spokesman. Rioters threw drink cans and other objects at police officers and sprayed them with red paint. Police also reported that bottles and a stone were thrown. Police officers in riot gear attempted to push back the crowd of demonstrators. The police also brought in a water cannon, but did not use it initially. Around 1,000 people in Palestinian colours gathered to mark the Palestinian day of remembrance, known as Nakba, where they commemorate those lost in the near 80-year conflict with Israel.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Berlin police arrest scores as neo-Nazi march blocked
A right-wing extremist demonstration in Berlin's Friedrichshain district was ended prematurely on Saturday after about four hours in the face of numerous counter-protests. Participants in the neo-Nazi march got little further than their arrival point at the German capital's eastern Ostkreuz train station. The leader of the rally ended it prematurely, police reported said on X. Police said they deployed around 1,500 officers — including reinforcements from Bavaria and Bremen — to separate the marchers and counter-protesters. Around 850 people, significantly more than at recent demonstrations, participated in the march, according to police. A nationwide mobilization was organized under the title "For Law and Order. Against Left-Wing Extremism and Politically Motivated Violence." The organizer had previously estimated 1,200 participants. Meanwhile, several thousand people loudly protested against the neo-Nazi demonstration. The police reported that significantly more than 2,000, but less than 5,000 people had taken part. According to police, there were 15 counter-protests along the planned march route in Friedrichshain, with hundreds of people blocking the street in some cases. Police reported repeated scuffles, with the atmosphere heated at times. According to a police spokeswoman, demonstrators from the left-wing camp attempted to break through a barrier. Officers also used pepper spray for this reason. Some people were temporarily arrested. Police said there had been around 100 arrests, saying they would provide further details on Sunday. Several were reportedly detained for not complying with a ban on wearing masks. Three participants were legally prevented from attending the neo-Nazi march, police spokesperson Florian Nath announced on the social media platform X. A judge had confirmed a so-called preventive detention order. The people concerned had previously been arrested for displaying symbols of unconstitutional organizations including one man who had given a Hitler salute. It was the third demonstration by right-wing extremists since December under the same title: "For law and order. Against left-wing extremism and politically motivated violence." Some 150 neo-Nazis took part in last month's march, police said, while there were about 60 participants at the first event in December. Edited by: Louis Oelofse
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Neo-Nazi march in Berlin called off as counter-protests swell
A large right-wing extremist demonstration in Berlin ended prematurely on Saturday as hundreds of counter-protesters blocked the intended route of the marchers. The rally leader called off the event after around four hours when participants got little further than their arrival point at the German capital's eastern Ostkreuz train station, the police said. According to official estimates, around 850 people - five times more than staged a similar march a month ago - gathered for the demonstration titled "For law and order. Against left-wing extremism and politically motivated violence." The march organizers spoke earlier of 1,200 participants expected. Meanwhile, the police reported that at least 2,000 people protested vociferously against the neo-Nazi action. Fifteen counter-protests ensued on the planned march route in the eastern city district of Friedrichshain, with hundreds of people blocking the road. Around 1,500 officers were deployed to keep the two camps separate, while remaining mindful of the rights of both, the police said. "We never protect the content of the assembly, but only the reason for the assembly itself, the freedom of assembly," spokesman Florian Nath said in a video posted on X as the marchers assembled. Despite a call for all sides to remain peaceful, a dpa reporter at the scene observed repeated scuffles amid a heated atmosphere. According to a police spokeswoman, demonstrators from the left-wing camp tried to break through a cordon, prompting officers to use pepper spray. Some people were temporarily arrested. There were more than 40 arrests, according to initial figures, more than 30 of them in the right-wing camp. Several people had not complied with the ban on wearing masks, it was reported. Three people were excluded from the neo-Nazi march earlier, the police spokesman Nath said, noting that a judge had confirmed a preventive detention. The people concerned had previously been arrested for displaying symbols of unconstitutional organisations. One man, for example, had shown a Hitler salute. This is already the third demonstration by right-wing extremists since December 2024 under the same march title. {microsoft_credit="" caption="Former Aachen Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Ferhat Sentuerk speaks as an organizer at a right-wing extremist demonstration at Ostkreuz S-Bahn station. The demonstration has been registered under the slogan "For law and order - against left-wing extremism and politically motivated violence". -/dpa"}
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arrests as police monitor neo-Nazi march, counter-protests in Berlin
Authorities in the German capital on Saturday deployed hundreds of police officers to accompany a large right-wing extremist demonstration and counter-protests. First arrests were made at the start of the neo-Nazi march in Berlin's eastern Friedrichshain district because some participants ignored the ban on wearing masks, a police spokesman said. Several hundred people protested loudly against the neo-Nazi demonstration, with around 1,500 officers positioned to keep the camps apart without intervening unless it became essential. "We never protect the content of the assembly, but only the reason for the assembly itself, the freedom of assembly," police spokesman Florian Nath emphasized in a video posted on X. At the same time, he called on the participants to remain peaceful. However, a dpa reporter at the scene witnessed the outbreak of scuffles. According to officials, around 850 people - more than five times more than attended a similar march a month ago - took part in the right-wing extremist event under the slogan "For law and order. Against left-wing extremism and politically motivated violence." The march organizers spoke of 1,200 participants. This is already the third demonstration by right-wing extremists since December 2024 under the same slogan. Because numerous demonstrators travelled by train, federal police officers were also deployed. The area around the city's eastern Ostkreuz station was cordoned off on a large scale, as well as the planned demonstration route. Also in Friedrichshain, counter-demonstrators tried to stop the neo-Nazi demonstration with a sit-in blockade. According to the police, 10 counter-protests and actions were announced, with participants carrying anti-fascist placards. The demonstrations caused traffic disruptions and road closures across the area.
Asharq Al-Awsat
22-02-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Police Arrest a Suspect in a Stabbing at Berlin's Holocaust Memorial That Injures 1 Person
Police arrested a man suspected in a stabbing attack Friday at Berlin's Holocaust Memorial that left a Spanish tourist seriously injured, police said. There was no immediate indication of a motive for the attack, which comes two days before Germans vote in a national election on Sunday. Police spokesman Florian Nath told a news conference that the attack happened at 6 p.m. "probably with a knife. Maybe with something else." Nearly three hours later, a male suspect approached officers who had surrounded the memorial grounds. "He had blood on his hands and this made him very suspicious," Nath said. Police arrested the man, handcuffing him and holding him on the ground. Nath said police seized the attack weapon and would interrogate the suspect as the investigation continued. The victim was identified as a 30-year-old Spanish man, who was taken to a hospital. The attack took place at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a field of 2,700 gray concrete slabs near the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin, which honors the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust under the direction of Nazi Germany.
