Berlin’s Halloween chaos erupts as protests and violence overshadow celebrations
Berlin experienced a tumultuous Halloween night as celebrations intertwined with protests tied to the Middle East conflict. Law enforcement deployed around 800 officers to manage the unrest, which included assaults on emergency services and multiple blazes across the city.
While most registered events transpired peacefully, violence erupted in several areas, leading to injuries and arrests.
The evening commenced with one pre-advertised assembly and four registered Halloween gatherings taking place without significant disruption. However, tensions swiftly escalated as groups of minors targeted police and firefighters with fireworks. Pyrotechnics and waste bins were set ablaze in multiple locations, contributing to the disorder.
A vehicle and a tire were torched on Gärtnerstraße in Friedrichshain, leaving debris scattered across the road. Officers also discovered graffiti with Middle East-related messages near Boxhagener Platz. By the end of the night, 23 criminal investigations had been opened for offences such as arson, public order violations, and obstructing law enforcement. Two officers were injured during the operation, while eight administrative breaches—mostly tied to explosives regulations—were recorded. In a separate incident, police apprehended a man carrying an axe on Wilhelmsruher Damm at around 19:15. The suspect, whose identity was not disclosed, was later taken to Vivantes Klinikum im Friedrichshain for medical treatment.
The operation resulted in multiple arrests and ongoing investigations. Police confirmed that while most planned events remained peaceful, the wider unrest caused significant disruption. Authorities continue to evaluate the damage and review security measures for future gatherings.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
