German police break up pro-Hamas celebrations

Supporters of Palestinians and police forces clash in Berlin on October 7, 2023. (AP)
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  • Police arrest numerous people in Berlin
  • NGO Samidoun posts ‘long live the resistance of the Palestinian people’ on social media

LONDON: Pro-Hamas celebrations were broken up by police in Berlin on Saturday after the Palestinian militant group launched a series of attacks against Israel. 

Events in support of both Israel and Palestine took place across Germany, with the NGO Samidoun, a European face for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, seen passing free baklava sweets to passersby in the capital in the aftermath of the attacks.

The group also posted “long live the resistance of the Palestinian people” on its social media channels.

Police arrested numerous people after around 40 individuals gathered in Sonnenallee, Neukoelln, a center for Berlin’s Palestinian community, where several had reportedly engaged in banned chants about Israel and Palestine. Two police officers were injured.

Two Germans are thought to have been taken hostage following the attacks in southern Israel. At least one German is thought to have been killed.