Political violence in Germany has no end: a Berlin spokeswoman was attacked

The newspaper Bild wrote that it happened shortly after 4 p.m. in a library in the Neukölln district. The police did not report the attack on the politician, who also held the office of mayor of Berlin from 2021 to 2023 and federal minister for the family from 2018 to 2021, only a few hours later, after midnight. “From what we know at this time, Ms. Giffey was suddenly attacked from behind by a man carrying a bag filled with hard contents at approximately 4:15 p.m. and was struck in the head and neck,” the press release said. “The suspect then fled the scene.”

After the attack, Giffey went to the hospital for outpatient treatment for headaches and neck pain. After that, the doctors released her.

Investigators are intensively searching for the perpetrator. “The investigation is being conducted by the state security police in close cooperation with the Berlin prosecutor’s office,” the statement said.

“There is no justification for these attacks,” Giffey told Die Welt on Wednesday. They represent an overstepping of boundaries that society must take a firm stand against. We live in a free and democratic country where everyone is free to express their opinion. However, there is a clear line – and that is violence against people who have a different opinion, for any reason and in any form,” she added.

After midnight, X Iris Sprangerová (62, SPD), senator for the interior, also spoke on the X network. “I strongly condemn the attack on Franziska Giffey and other politicians and election workers who advocate for democratic debate.”

As mayor, Giffey always had bodyguards from the State Bureau of Criminal Investigation with her during public appearances. After taking up the position of senator for the economy, she lost her security.

Last Friday in Dresden, a group of attackers beat and seriously injured Matthias Ecke (41), a Saxon MEP for the SPD. Even before this group attacked a 28-year-old man who was putting up election posters of the Greens. The attacks sparked nationwide outrage, but also a wave of solidarity.

On the night of Monday, a 17-year-old youth, who appeared at the precinct accompanied by his mother, confessed to the violence against the MEP.

Giffey already condemned the attack on Saturday. “It is a disgusting and shocking act,” she wrote on the X network. “We will not be intimidated in our determination to defend freedom, justice and solidarity.”

On Tuesday evening, the Saxon police announced that two assailants verbally assaulted and spat on a 47-year-old Green politician in the capital of the state of Saxony while putting up election posters. Shortly after, officers arrested a 24-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man as suspects, the Dresden Police Department announced Tuesday evening.

A 34-year-old German man is being investigated for assault, threats, insult and damage to property, and a 24-year-old German woman for assault.

On Saturday afternoon, three people in the Saxon capital attacked the election booth of the protest Alternative for Germany (AfD). According to the police, two 23-year-old women and a 28-year-old man damaged a blackboard, posters and a table during the attack on the AfD stand. Police arrested the suspects based on information from witnesses. They will be investigated for damaging another’s property.

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