German Police Face Scrutiny After Protester Injured at Berlin Demonstration
Berlin, Germany – A costume designer, identified as O’Brien, sustained a possibly permanent hand injury during a protest in Berlin’s Mitte district, sparking condemnation of German police tactics towards pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The incident occurred during a demonstration held without prior authorisation to protest Israel‘s killing of journalists in gaza.
O’Brien alleges that after being told to leave an area but prevented from doing so, an officer broke their arm. “I just heard a loud crunching adn kind of knew that something wasn’t right,” O’Brien stated. Doctors have assessed the possibility of permanent radial nerve damage, impacting O’Brien’s ability to continue their work. “I’m lucky, really lucky to have a job in what I love doing,” they said. “I’m not sure if or when I will regain feeling in my hand.”
The incident is the latest in a series of accusations against German police of excessive force against pro-Palestinian protesters. Germany has been a staunch supporter of Israel throughout its war against Palestinians in Gaza, providing 30 percent of Israel’s major arms imports between 2019 and 2023, according to the stockholm International Peace Research Institute. While Berlin halted military exports to Israel in early August amid growing international criticism, it had continued supplying weapons potentially used in the conflict.Ninety-four people were detained at the protest, and 96 investigations have been launched, including one against O’Brien for allegedly insulting and resisting law officers. Police stated they are investigating the officer’s actions to determine if they were “proportionate.”
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin has condemned the assault on O’Brien as ”unacceptable.”
O’Brien asserts that police brutality is specifically targeted towards those supporting Palestinian liberation.”The large majority of the violence is obviously targeted at Palestinian and Arab and other brown and Black comrades who are on the streets with us and myself and the Irish bloc. We have felt the brutality, but it’s not because we’re white. It’s because we are standing beside brown people.”
Despite their injuries, O’Brien remains committed to protesting, stating, “There’s nothing that’s not worth risking to stop this genocide.”
Germany has faced previous criticism for its handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including accusations of brutality and attempts to deport Western activists in April over their participation in protests.
