Monday, July 29
Attack on CSD: Neo-Nazis arrested at Potsdamer Platz
From about midday until 3:45pm on Saturday when they were taken into custody, the group of around 30 people – mainly young men – stood around the edge of a shopping centre next to Potsdamer Platz, surrounded by police officers. Occasionally, they flashed “white power” hand signals.
According to police information, this group – consisting of more than two dozen right-wing extremists – had come to Berlin with a plan: to attack the CSD pride procession. Those ambitions were thwarted by police intervention when the group was handcuffed and removed from the area in prisoner transport vehicles. While the minors among the group were immediately released, the adults were kept in custody until after midnight; all have since been released.
Far-right activity is on the increase in Berlin. Earlier this year, a far-right group named the “Young Nationalists” had called upon its followers to act against the Berlin CSD.
For the most part, however, the 46th Christopher Street Day in Berlin was a success. 250,000 people marched through the city, joining the event which had been organised under the motto “Only strong together – for democracy and diversity.”
