Around a month after the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on Israel, the Berlin police have so far registered 1,199 crimes in connection with the intensified Middle East conflict. Most of these involved damage to property, such as painted or sprayed slogans on house walls, and crimes such as resistance to police officers during demonstrations. The police informed the German Press Agency of this (as of November 9, 2023).
386 cases of property damage related to the Middle East conflict were counted. In most cases these were graffiti, such as pro-Palestinian lettering or anti-Israel slogans. Painted pictures on the floor of sports fields or slogans sprayed using stencils against an alleged “genocide” against Palestinians were also reported.
More than 2,600 crimes nationwide
There were also 345 violent crimes, including 201 acts of resistance and 50 physical injuries. Most of these acts occurred at one of the many demonstrations by Palestinian groups. There were also acts of incitement during demonstrations; the police recorded 93 acts here. In addition, 21 cases of coercion and threats as well as an undisclosed number of other acts were recorded.
All investigations are carried out by the State Security Office (LKA) of the police, which is responsible for political crimes.
According to information from Tuesday evening, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) counted more than 2,600 crimes nationwide in connection with the Middle East conflict since the Hamas attack on October 7th. Damage to property, incitement to hatred and resistance crimes were mainly recorded. The number of violent crimes is in the mid three-digit range.
