Greta Thunberg joins 1,800 protesters at Berlin Rheinmetall site, 15 arrested as police report criminal slogans
Around 1,800 demonstrators marched to the Berlin-Wedding site of arms manufacturer Rheinmetall on Saturday afternoon, with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg among them. Police reported 15 arrests and the shouting of criminal slogans.
Roughly 1,800 people marched against arms production and exports to the Berlin site of Rheinmetall on Saturday afternoon, a demonstration that drew Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. The march, registered under the slogan "Wedding ohne Waffen. Gemeinsam gegen Krieg," started at Hanne-Sobek-Platz near the Gesundbrunnen S- and U-Bahn station and moved toward the arms manufacturer's facility. A Berlin police spokesman put the participant count at around 1,800.
While the event was described by police as largely trouble-free, authorities noted that pyrotechnics were ignited during the march. In a separate statement carried by DIE WELT, police said 15 people were taken into custody and that participants had shouted criminal slogans.
Thunberg's presence
The participation of Greta Thunberg attracted particular notice. The Swedish activist, who rose to global prominence through the Fridays for Future climate movement, has increasingly weighed in on geopolitical issues, and her appearance at the Berlin protest extended that pattern.
The Swedish activist, known internationally through the climate movement 'Fridays for Future', joins a series of appearances in which she has recently increasingly positioned herself on geopolitical topics.
Pattern of protests
Saturday's march was not an isolated event. The Berlin Rheinmetall site has been targeted by activists multiple times in recent months, some of whom blocked the access road to the company's premises. Police have maintained a recurring presence there. Earlier protests on Thursday and Friday were smaller in scale and driven largely by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Clashes during the Thursday protest left two officers injured, according to police accounts.
- Pro-Palestinian protest near Rheinmetall site; two police officers injured during clashes.
- Further small-scale protest, predominantly pro-Palestinian demonstrators, no reported arrests.
- 1,800 march under 'Wedding ohne Waffen' slogan; Greta Thunberg participates; pyrotechnics ignited; 15 arrests.
- Berlin police expect additional disruptive and protest actions at the Scheringstraße site.
Police posture and next steps
The police have stationed themselves around the Scheringstraße property for days. Metal fencing has been erected to protect the site, and police vehicles remain deployed. The authorities expect further disruptive actions and protests in the days ahead.
The police have been positioned around the company site on Scheringstraße for days. To protect the site, barriers in the form of metal grilles have been set up. In addition, police emergency vehicles are on site. The authority expects further disruptive and protest actions in the coming days.
