NEWS FROM BERLIN
Spranger concerned about rise in knife violence
Berlin’s Senator for the Interior, Iris Spranger (SPD), is concerned about the increase in knife violence in the city. Recently, a 20-year-old man died from stab wounds following a violent altercation between two groups on 12 September at the Humboldt Forum. On the same day, a man in Reinickendorf was attacked with a knife, losing one eye. “The rise in violent crimes involving knives is worrying,” the politician told the German Press Agency on 15 September. According to her, such rise shows how important the measures she has initiated to combat knife violence are such as a knife ban on buses and trains in effect since July. Source: rbb
Homelessness in Berlin expected to increase by 60% by 2029
The Berlin Senate estimates that there were just under 26,000 homeless people in Berlin in 2022, the year when the city started officially recording and estimating the number of people who are in homeless shelters, hostels or emergency accommodation. The statistics do not include the so-called “hidden homelessness”, such as people living on the street. In 2025, that figure has increased to 53,600, so far, and it is expected to grow to 85,600 by 2029. The last two federal coalitions promised that they would attempt to end homelessness. Source: iamexpat
Against war and double standards
Several thousand people took part in a rally on 13 September at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin under the slogans “Stop the genocide in Gaza!” and “Peace instead of an arms race!” The organizers spoke of 22,000 participants, while the police claimed to have counted 12,000. Among those who called for the peace rally were BSW co-chair Sahra Wagenknecht, actor Dieter Hallervorden, and musicians Peter Maffay and Massiv. The audience was quite diverse. In addition to many participants from the traditional peace movement, this time there were numerous predominantly younger people with a migrant background. The chant “Free Palestine” could be heard repeatedly. Source: jungewelt
NEWS FROM GERMANY
Christoph Heusgen: “Germany could be convicted of aiding and abetting genocide in Gaza”
The former UN ambassador and Merkel advisor Christoph Heusgen is calling for a change of Germany’s policy on Israel. He says in an interview the time has come to recognize Palestine as a state. He points out that “if our neighbour France, with whom we want to be on the same page in foreign policy, as well as our close partner Great Britain and, most recently, Belgium, express their intention to recognize Palestine, then Germany should also address this issue”. He also believes such decision would have an impact on Israel, considering that “Israel’s security is a matter of German national interest – and that should remain so”. Source: berliner Zeitung
More right-wing violence than previously thought
Right-wing violence in Germany has already officially reached an alarming high. Nevertheless, the known extent, with an increase of 17% to officially 1,500 violent crimes in 2024, only reflects part of the actual attacks. This is shown by a analysis by the Association of Counseling Centers for Victims of Right-wing, Racist, and Anti-Semitic Violence. According to the report, German authorities do not record right-wing violence completely. The counseling centers are therefore calling for regular case comparisons between investigative authorities and victim counseling centers. “The real extent of right-wing violence is far greater than has been recorded to date”, they say. Source: taz
AfD triple share of vote in NRW
The results of the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia suggest a stability that may yet prove deceptive. There was even a comforting feeling on election night. What a result! Almost a brief respite from nationwide polls: the CDU above 30%, the SPD above 20%, the AfD below 20%, the Greens comfortably in double digits… The West remains stable. Or does it? Not quite. The AfD tripled its share of the vote from the 2020 local elections. A growing number of people, even in the West, are turning away from the established parties and voting for the AfD. Source: n-tv
Heidi Reichinnek defends controversial post about Kirk
On Caren Miosga’s talk show, the faction leader Heidi Reichinnek (“die Linke”) justified her advisor’s controversial post, who had written “Oh no” next to a photo of the US activist Charlie Kirk on“X” – essentially saying, “Oh no, I don’t care.” Her colleague wanted to draw attention to a school massacre that had taken place at the same time and received little public attention. “It was cynical, but unfortunately fitting,” said Reichinnek. The post was deleted, and legal action is being taken against right-wing media reports on the matter. She remained adamant that it was possible to criticize Kirk and his ideology without expressing joy at his death. Source: berliner Zeitung
