At a rally of conspiracy ideologues, bystanders in Berlin were apparently threatened and attacked on Saturday. A video published on Twitter shows how the demonstrators threaten those affected to find their place of residence and names, and also physically attack them in at least one case. Apparently the demonstrators thought they were journalists. The police officers present, who can also be seen in the video, did not intervene.
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The demonstrators, including Attila Hildmann, asked the filmmakers, among other things, to show their press cards. Then Hildmann said: “I know exactly who you are. I know exactly who you are all.” One of the demonstrators hit a victim on the camera.
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The Twitter video shows what happened from the perspective of the alleged journalists. Attila Hildmann, who speaks regularly on demonstrations by conspiracy ideologists and their crude theories spread at the forefront, stands in front of the camera. “Are you part of it or what?” He asks. “Are you also enemies of democracy?”
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Then it goes on: “We’ll find your names, and then we’ll take a look,” says Hildmann.
It remains unclear whether it was actually journalists. When asked by SPIEGEL, the Berlin police did not want to provide any information on the case. The events are currently being examined, a spokesman said. The police in Berlin wrote only vaguely on Twitter about the incident: “We have a duty to protect congregations regardless of their topic and the freedom of the press. We will include the case in the preparation of future operations.”
State protection investigated against Hildmann
According to his own statement, Hildmann wants to defend fundamental rights at his demonstrations. In fact, state protection is now investigating the vegan chef, suspected of anti-Semitism and sedition. On a publicly viewable telegram channel, Hildmann described Adolf Hitler as a “blessing for Germany”. In his statements, Jews and Zionists keep appearing as an enemy.
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(Read more about Hildmann’s conspiracy ideologies here.)
The video shows how more and more demonstrators gather around Hildmann and film the scene with their cell phones. The bystanders ask them to keep their distance, but some of them are getting closer.
The police accompany the demonstrators as they move towards the alleged press representatives, but do not appear to intervene. One of the officers raises his hand soothingly. The video stops with the request of the film end: “Can you please call in a little more officials?”
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