Berlin’s Senator for Culture Joe Chialo (CDU) had to leave an event under police protection after he was harassed and insulted by a crowd. This was announced by the Berlin police. Chialo was present as a representative of the Senate on Thursday evening at the reopening of the Center for Art and Urbanism in Berlin-Moabit.
When he began his speech in front of the entrance to the building, around 40 people gathered at the lectern. According to the police, most of them wore so-called Palestinian scarves, chanted forbidden slogans and insulted the senator. The Tagesspiegel newspaper had previously reported on this.
The crowd then surrounded the senator. Pyrotechnics were set off and a microphone stand that had been on the steps to the lectern was thrown in the direction of the senator. According to the police, this hit a woman standing directly in front of the senator.
The senator remained unharmed
Police forces, who had been alerted in the meantime, separated the crowd from Chialo and pushed them back. The senator left the premises under police protection and remained unharmed.
The police subsequently checked nine people. The State Protection Police of the State Criminal Police Office is investigating on suspicion of breach of the peace, use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, insult, coercion and trespassing.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240913-930-231674/1
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