A planned protest in central Berlin on Tuesday night, featuring paragliders as a symbol of the October 7 terrorist attacks, was prohibited by the German police mere hours before it was set to start.
In observance of the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, authorities in Berlin issued a ban on demonstrations deemed pro-Hamas and anti-Israel, deploying an extra 1,500 police officers to the scene.
Following the announcement, local police indicated that, given recent events, they anticipated that the demonstration could turn violent. The decision to ban the protests was reportedly influenced by their perceived glorification of Hamas and a tendency to “trivialize” the impacts of terrorism.
Under this ban, any last-minute protests or spontaneous requests would also be viewed as “alternative events,” subject to the same restrictions.
Berlin’s Mayor, Kai Wegner, commented on the ruling, asserting, “Berlin is not a place where terrorism, anti-Semitism, and brutal murders are glorified… The Berlin Police is prepared and has our full support to act firmly against crime.”
The protest was expected to occur at Alexanderplatz, a major square in Berlin, where police vans were already positioned to address any defiance of the ban. Vigils honoring the victims of the October 7 attacks were already taking place around the city that day.
Materials for the banned protests, including flyers attributed to student extremists in Berlin, displayed paragliders, a symbol associated with the attacks. On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants used light aircraft to infiltrate Israel and launch assaults on unprotected areas.
Earlier, police apprehended ten individuals at a separate demonstration in Berlin where attendees chanted the phrase “From the river to the sea – Palestine will be free,” which is illegal in Germany for promoting terrorism.
A graffiti campaign across the city has also featured anti-Israel and anti-Semitic slogans. In addition, two police officers were injured while making an arrest linked to the vandalism of the Jewish Museum.
While Berlin’s police enforced a firm stance against protests, other European cities adopted a more lenient approach. In London, the British government encouraged demonstrators to reconsider marching that night.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged the public to avoid protests, saying: “Students are planning another protest on October 7, the anniversary of the atrocities. This is not our country per se. It is un-British to have so little respect for others. And that is before some of them start shouting hatred against Jews again.”
Despite the calls to refrain from protesting, hundreds still marched through central London. Demonstrations also took place in other cities, largely organized by university students.
