Irish activist gets assaulted by police officer in pro-Palestinian protest in Berlin
(MENAFN) Irish officials have raised concerns after an Irish activist was struck in the face by a police officer during a pro-Palestinian rally in Berlin, leaving her hospitalized.
Kitty O’Brien, who resides in Berlin, underwent surgery for her injuries, an Irish news agency reported Tuesday. Video footage shows a police officer hitting her twice in the face, causing heavy bleeding.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he was “deeply concerned” by what he described as an “unacceptable” assault, adding that the Irish Embassy in Berlin had intervened.
German opposition figures and campaigners linked the incident to a broader pattern of heavy-handed policing. Green Party state lawmaker Vassily Franco accused Berlin’s mayor, Kai Wegener, of endorsing a “hard-line approach towards demonstrators” and avoiding investigations. Writer and activist Mohamed Amjahid called it a “new escalation,” saying police had been given “carte blanche to do whatever they want.”
Germany lacks an independent police ombudsman, with most complaints handled internally and rarely leading to prosecutions.
German Ambassador to Ireland David Gill said the footage was “really awful.” Berlin police confirmed no preliminary investigation had been opened against the officer, though a review was underway into “whether the behavior was appropriate.”
Authorities said 94 people were detained during the clashes, with 96 investigations launched.
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