Berlin’s police are preparing for a major operation because of the riots at the turn of the year and against the background of the war in the Gaza Strip. “It is the largest police operation on New Year’s Eve in recent decades,” said Police Chief Barbara Slowik to the German Press Agency. “This is primarily due to the Middle East conflict, which makes the operational situation significantly more demanding and complex.”
Last year there were firecrackers thrown and other attacks on police officers, firefighters and paramedics in parts of Berlin and other major German cities. The riots sparked sharp criticism and controversial political debates.
“On New Year’s Eve we will have 2,000 to 2,500 Berlin police officers and support from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and the Federal Police on duty,” Slowik announced. “At the same time, the number of patrol cars will be increased from 150, as is usual at night, to 220.” That’s another 1,000 police officers in the patrol cars and at the stations. There would also be 500 federal police officers at the S-Bahn and long-distance train stations.
The reasons for the significantly increased police presence are, on the one hand, the experiences of the past year. “We are significantly increasing the protection of the fire brigade and other rescue workers. And we are also very present on the streets in the relevant parts of the city,” said Slowik. “In addition, there is the emotionalization caused by the conflict in the Middle East and the immense need for protection of Jewish and Israeli people and institutions. We certainly assume that these emotions will also be lived out on the streets.”
Looking back on last New Year’s Eve, Slowik said that the sheer number of attacks on police officers, firefighters and other rescue workers was not much higher than in the years before Corona in 2018 and 2019. “There were a similar number of attacks before. However, the quality was of attacks last year, for example when rescue workers were lured into suspected ambushes and attacked.”
Berlin’s governing mayor Kai Wegner announced decisive action against riots on New Year’s Eve. “We have taken all the necessary precautions to ensure that the rule of law is enforced,” the CDU politician told the German Press Agency. “We know that it can be challenging in certain parts of the city. I can only appeal to everyone: Let’s celebrate New Year’s Eve peacefully together, even in a relaxed way,” said Wegner. “But anyone who attacks the police and fire services must expect a very consistent response from the constitutional state.”
The police will be present in places where riots can be expected. “The judiciary will also be on standby on New Year’s Eve to check arrest warrants or initiate follow-up investigations,” said the head of government and CDU state chairman. “We are aware that the security situation in our city has been even more tense since October 7th than it was before:”
Slowik announced: “We are directly on site at various guard stations and hot spots and are in direct radio contact. Depending on the situation, we will accompany the rescue workers into the operational area and protect them.”
This is particularly true for Gesundbrunnen, North Neukölln, Gropiusstadt, the High Deck settlement, Schöneberg and also certain places in Lichtenrade in the south of Berlin, where the strongest outbreak of violence occurred a year ago. A whole range of measures are planned for the three prohibited zones for fireworks in Sonnenallee in Neukölln, in Schöneberg and at Alexanderplatz, such as barriers and controls.
The police are of course also accompanying the big celebration at the Brandenburg Gate, which with 65,000 visitors is much larger than in previous years, said Slowik. “We are also keeping an eye on the Last Generation climate protection group in order to prevent such actions or end them as quickly as possible.”
