Dozens Of Police Hurt In Riots At Berlin's Hold-out Squat
Sumaira FH Published June 16, 2021 | 08:32 PM
Sixty police officers were injured in riots that erupted Wednesday at one of Berlin's last squats ahead of disputed fire protection checks on the building
Berlin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jun, 2021 ) :Sixty police officers were injured in riots that erupted Wednesday at one of Berlin's last squats ahead of disputed fire protection checks on the building.
Its facade covered in murals and anti-capitalist graffiti, the occupied building at 94 Rigaer Strasse is among the squats that mushroomed across the city after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Numerous attempts have been made in recent years to clear the squat, but each time they have ended in violence.
Ahead of Thursday's planned fire protection inspection, police had declared the zone a restricted area and banned all demonstrations in the environs.
But as officers arrived on the scene to secure the area, they were met with a hail of stones flung from roofs and the street.
Firecrackers were also hurled from windows and barricades set up by far-left activists were set on fire.
Police said officers were attacked by "around 200 people from the street and from the roof with stones".
"Material was brought on the street and set on fire," they added on Twitter.
As water cannons were brought in to put out the fires, officers partially withdrew from the scene.
But they later returned, backed by climbing experts, who were helping them get on the roof of the building to remove stones placed there by residents, added police.
Officials have planned a heavy deployment lasting into Thursday.
Berlin's interior minister Andreas Geisel vowed a tough crackdown on the militants, saying there can be no special treatment or a "law for Rigaer Strasse".
Rigaer 94 has been branded by Germany's domestic security service as the centre of Berlin's anarchist scene.
While some want to see the counter-culture bastion wiped off the capital's map, others have defended it as a vestige of an old Berlin rapidly disappearing as property prices and rents rise sharply.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
EU wants to ease youth movement to and from UK
Police foils attempt of supply mainpuri raw material
More Stories From World
-
Husband of ex-Scottish leader charged over alleged embezzlement: police
8 minutes ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
28 minutes ago -
Hugs or bullets? How Mexico presidential rivals aim to curb violence
28 minutes ago -
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief, senior officers
1 hour ago -
Biden hails 'incredible' Kennedy family backing against RFK Jr.
1 hour ago -
Maldives court frees jailed ex-president ahead of vote
1 hour ago
-
Probe into Portugal ex-PM Costa appears to collapse
1 hour ago -
Jury selection stalls in Trump criminal trial
1 hour ago -
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
2 hours ago -
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
2 hours ago -
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
2 hours ago -
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
2 hours ago