Berlin, Germany – A violent altercation in Berlin on Saturday involving four teenagers accused of attacking Social Democratic Party (SPD) campaigners led to numerous injuries and arrests, authorities said. The attack, which occurred at a bus stop in Berlin’s Lankwitz district, has sparked a widespread condemnation from politicians across the political spectrum.
The suspects, described by police as part of the far-right scene, traveled from another state to participate in a right-wing march. It was during this visit that they encountered SPD campaigners by chance and launched their unprovoked assault, according to the police report. The incident began with verbal insults and escalated quickly as one assailant knocked campaign materials from the victims’ hands and started striking them.
Both campaign volunteers were knocked to the ground, with one being continually kicked in the head and torso, police said. The attackers were reportedly wearing heavy-duty jump boots, exacerbating the severity of the injuries. The situation deteriorated further when two police officers responding to the incident were also assaulted. One was wounded in the face with a glass shard, and the other suffered a fractured hand.
Police reinforcements eventually arrived and managed to control the situation. Both officers and one of the SPD campaign workers required hospital treatment but were later discharged.
Matthias Miersch, general secretary of the SPD, expressed his outrage over the incident, highlighting it as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by right-wing extremism. “These actions threaten the very fabric of our democratic society,” Miersch stated.
In response to the violence, local SPD leaders Nicola Böcker-Giannini and Martin Hikel issued a joint statement emphasizing the recurrent nature of such crimes and calling it a wake-up call for all defenders of democracy.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of rising political tension in Germany as the country gears up for parliamentary elections in February. The violent clash highlights ongoing societal divisions and the challenges of maintaining public safety during politically charged periods.
Moreover, the right-wing march that the suspects were part of was significantly overshadowed by counter-protests. Police reported that the far-right group’s march comprised only 63 participants while over 2,000 individuals joined in various counter-demonstrations, emphasizing a strong public opposition to extremist ideologies.
The attacked SPD member, Carolyn Macmillan, asserted post-incident, “It’s crucial that we stand united. We cannot yield our community spaces to extremist elements.”
This recent episode of political violence mirrors a disturbing trend in increased hostility toward political campaigners and law enforcement, underscoring the pressing need for robust measures to protect democratic processes and ensure the safety of its participants.