Escalation of Violence: Three Police Officers Severely Injured in Berlin

In a concerning rise of violence against police in Berlin, three officers have sustained serious injuries over the past few days, prompting significant reactions from city officials. The incidents, which unfolded between Thursday and Sunday, have drawn the attention of the city's police chief, who characterized the weekend as 'truly dark.'

Police President Barbara Slowik Meisel expressed her alarm at the increasing number of injuries among officers, stating that the erosion of respect for police is both troubling and disheartening. Her comments were made during a session in the Interior Committee of the House of Representatives.

Berlin's Interior Senator, Iris Spranger, also expressed deep concern over the events of the previous week, calling for serious consequences and the full utilization of legal measures in response to the violence.

The violence began on Thursday during a pro-Palestinian demonstration, where an officer was severely injured after being tackled and kicked. Additional officers suffered minor injuries in the same incident. The situation escalated further on Friday night when a police officer was critically injured during a knife attack while attempting to control a suspect in Neukölln.

Later that weekend, during a football match between BFC Dynamo and Zwickau, another officer was injured after being pushed and struck in the head, rendering him unconscious. On Sunday evening, over 30 police officers were injured during clashes with fans of Turkish descent at the Kurfürstendamm, where violent fans threw fireworks and bottles at police and attempted to breach barriers.

Focusing on the life-threatening injuries sustained by the officer in Neukölln, Spranger confirmed that the 31-year-old officer had undergone surgery and is now recovering at home. The suspect involved in the knife attack was released shortly after the incident due to a lack of strong evidence for a targeted assault, with ongoing investigations into the charges of severe bodily harm.

Senator Spranger mentioned that the rapid release of the suspect raised questions, and emphasized that she would not comment on the ongoing investigation at this time. However, she expressed confidence that justice officials would thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the case.

The suspect, reportedly waiting to file a complaint at the police station, damaged a police vehicle with a knife before the confrontation occurred, which led to the officer's injury. Spranger remarked on the dangers posed by knives in public and highlighted the necessity of addressing this issue effectively. She stated that carrying a knife in public is unjustifiable and those who do bear significant responsibility for the consequences.

The police union, Gewerkschaft der Polizei (GdP), responded to the violent behavior exhibited by fans, emphasizing that while sports can evoke strong emotions, throwing objects at individuals is unacceptable and poses a severe risk to life and safety.