Police: Man charged over camera crew attack at illegal Berlin protest

A 46-year-old man has been released from police custody and charged with assault after a camera team was attacked in Berlin, a police spokesman said early Thursday morning.

The man was detained during an illegal protest against the measures imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, Berlin’s police force said in a tweet on Wednesday.

The attack on a camera team from public broadcaster ARD took place close to the Reichstag parliament building, according to the tweet. 

A sound assistant was attacked. A man had tried to kick him, but apparently hit the microphone pole, which then hit a cameraman’s head, according to police on Wednesday evening.

The 46-year-old suspect had tried to escape, but was then arrested, the police spokesman said.

Between 350 and 400 people gathered in front of the Reichstag building on Wednesday after a call on social media, the posters they carried suggested, the spokeswoman said.

Demonstrations are only permitted with up to 50 people in Berlin due to the pandemic.

Police officers encouraged the protestors to maintain social distancing, the police spokeswoman said.

The officers repeatedly called on people to leave the square with loudspeakers and ultimately dispelled the crowd, the police tweeted.

Many behaved aggressively, according to bystanders, and there were shouts of “We are the people.” The police did not provide further details about the demonstrators.

Some resisted the police and hurt the officers, according to the spokeswoman. Their details were taken down and they were ordered to leave the area, she said. 

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Another camera team was also attacked at a demonstration on May 1, also in Berlin. They were preparing a satirical programme for the ZDF public television channel and filming a protest against the rules imposed to contain the epidemic.

Later, the camera team was attacked by people wearing hoods. Six people were injured and brought to hospital, according to ZDF. (dpa)