From the Liveblog of
Friday, October 20, 2023
Germany sees over 1,100 offenses linked to Israel-Hamas conflict
German police have recorded more than 1,100 offenses in relation to the Israel-Gaza conflict since Hamas launched its deadly attack earlier this month, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser says.
“These are preliminary figures… and investigations are underway everywhere,” Faeser tells journalists in a press conference at the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Wiesbaden.
The recorded offenses included “bodily harm… breaches of the peace, incitement to hatred and damage to property,” BKA deputy chief Juergen Peter says at the same press conference.
In all, a “low three-digit” figure of violent crimes had been recorded, Peter says.
Berlin had become a “hotspot” for offenses, he says, with the majority occurring in the capital, where clashes between protesters and police were fiercest.
Police had made “hundreds of provisional arrests” in Berlin, Faeser says, adding that this was “the right response.”
“Over 100 police officers have been injured by thrown bottles and fireworks” in the city, Faeser says, adding that “this violence… is in no way acceptable.”
In all, 46 gatherings related to the conflict had been prohibited by authorities since October 7, Faeser says.
By contrast, 211 pro-Israel events and 129 pro-Palestinian events had taken place in that period, Faeser says.
