Police disperse banned demonstration at berlin's alexanderplatz
On the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, Berlin police dispersed a banned pro-Palestinian demonstration at Alexanderplatz. Around 250 to 500 participants gathered despite the ban, chanting aggressive slogans and resisting. Several arrests followed, with one officer injured.
The demonstration occurred on October 7, 2025, the anniversary of the Hamas terror attack on Israel two years prior. Police banned the event hours earlier, anticipating unrest based on recent experiences and social media calls portraying the attack as a 'heroic breakout' and 'beacon of revolutionary hope.' The call originated from pro-Palestinian and anti-colonial student groups in Berlin.
Around 250 to 500 people gathered at the Neptune Fountain near the Red Town Hall. Among participants were activists linked to the banned network Samidoun. They chanted anti-Israel slogans such as 'Glory to our Fighters,' 'From the River to the Sea' – alluding to a Palestinian claim excluding Israel – and demanded in Arabic a 'repetition of October 7.'
Police warned multiple times via loudspeaker vehicle and ordered dispersal. When some resisted, officers used force: pushing, shoving, and targeted strikes. Water cannons were on standby but not deployed. Over 100 individuals were kettled and temporarily detained for ID checks. Investigations proceed for violations of assembly laws and approval of crimes; the latter was initiated on Monday.
One officer sustained injuries and was hospitalized. Forces from Berlin, Saxony, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and North Rhine-Westphalia were involved. Late evening, police ended operations due to duration and weather; all were released. A full report follows on Wednesday.