During demonstrations on May 1st, things remained largely calm in the capital Berlin, while the police in Stuttgart reported riots and injuries during the protests there.
After the large-scale operation, the Berlin police spoke of a peaceful outcome. At the “Revolutionary May 1st Demonstration” and around 20 other demonstrations, there were only a few disruptions and arrests, said police chief Barbara Slowik on RBB television.
Slowik also points out the importance of strong police forces. “A clear presence can nip some things in the bud,” she told the RBB24 Inforadio station that morning. To secure the demonstrations, the Berlin police deployed around 6,200 officers, including 2,400 from other federal states and the federal police.
The situation is constantly being reassessed with a so-called risk assessment, said Slowik. "We don't now know what will develop in the months before May 1, 2025, what global political situation, what situation perhaps also in Germany." Forces would then be planned on this basis. What cannot be clearly illuminated is what is already being prevented by a clear police presence.
At a similar demonstration in Stuttgart, however, there was violence and a number of injuries. The protest march was eventually disbanded. According to the police, emergency services were suddenly attacked with pepper spray, roof battens with screws, other impact tools, punches and kicks. The police said on Wednesday evening that 25 emergency services and three police horses were injured.
Party atmosphere in Berlin in summer temperatures
Given the warm weather, there was a party atmosphere in many places in the capital. Although the usual street festival Myfest was canceled this year, tens of thousands of people celebrated on the streets and squares in the Kreuzberg district during the day in warm weather and bright sunshine. The police speak of a “peaceful and relaxed atmosphere”.
In the evening, thousands of people marched through Kreuzberg and Neukölln at the traditional “Revolutionary May 1st Demonstration”. Previously feared incidents or outbreaks of violence did not occur given the charged atmosphere in the Middle East conflict. According to police estimates, almost 12,000 people took part in the demonstration. The organizers - left-wing and left-wing autonomous groups - spoke of 25,000 to 30,000 demonstrators. The demonstration was accompanied by a large contingent of thousands of police officers.
This time, no large black block could be seen at the demonstration, said Police Chief Slowik. Against the background of the conflict situation in the Middle East, there were many pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the streets. “The dominant theme was the Palestine issue,” she said. The police intervened quickly in three cases in which anti-Semitic hatred was expressed. There were a few temporary arrests, according to a police post on the online platform X. One police officer was slightly injured.
Stone deposits discovered before the demo
Following tips from residents, the police discovered and seized deposits of stones and roof tiles on house roofs and on the ground along the planned demonstration route before the procession began in the afternoon. The police suspect that it was possibly meant to be thrown at officers - but this was not certain.
Demonstrators in Stuttgart contradict police
In Stuttgart, the organizers of the demonstration with around 450 participants criticized the police, who had spoken of several attacks on officers. Kim Northeim, spokeswoman for the alliance for the "Revolutionary May 1st Demonstration," said late on Wednesday evening, according to a statement: "The police's claims are completely unfounded and serve only the purpose of constructing a retrospective justification for the violent attack on the demonstration." If police officers were injured by pepper spray, then it was due to the massive use of tear gas from their own ranks.
The police said that the emergency services finally surrounded the violent group of people at the demonstration. The other meeting participants then showed solidarity and harassed the police officers. The police statement continued: "Since the meeting management and the participants were completely uncooperative, the meeting was dissolved by the meeting authority."
It is not yet known how many demonstrators were injured. The alliance's spokeswoman said that so far they know of "95 people injured in police attacks." According to police information, 167 people were temporarily arrested. Criminal proceedings were initiated against them.
