After the riots last year and because of the Gaza war, the Berlin police are planning a major operation at the end of the year. “It is the largest police operation on New Year’s Eve in recent decades,” Berlin Police Chief Barbara Slowik told 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, in some districts of Berlin and other major cities, in addition to the usual violent fireworks displays in the streets, there were also many firecrackers thrown and other attacks on police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
Slowik announced that 2,000 to 2,500 Berlin police officers and support from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and the federal police would be on duty on New Year’s Eve. “At the same time, the number of patrol cars will be increased from 150, as is usual at night, to 220.” 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. Added to this is the emotionalization caused by the conflict in the Middle East. “We definitely assume that these emotions will also be lived out on the street.”
