The Higher Administrative Court has also confirmed the planned fire protection inspection of the occupied and barricaded house “Rigaer 94” in Berlin-Friedrichshain. Previously there were riots in the area.
Riots in Berlin-Friedrichshain: shortly after the police announced a stopping ban in the area of Rigaer Strasse from Wednesday noon and tweetedIt crashed that the “use of public roads for public gatherings” was forbidden here until Friday night. Barricades were piled up and set on fire in Rigaer Strasse. Policemen approaching the barricade were pelted with stones and injured.
The officers initially withdrew, then came back early noon with a water cannon. Police and fire brigade were “attacked and pelted with stones, including from the roofs,” tweeted the police. But they are now with water cannons and clearing technology as well as around 200 emergency services on site, “and the trend is rising”.
A police clearing armor pushes a barricade aside on Rigaer Strasse in Berlin-Friedrichshain, behind which a water cannon drives: the water cannons were also used to extinguish parts of the barricades. (Source: Rabenstein / dpa)
Fire extinguished – residents: “It will keep crashing”
The residents themselves had declared an “autonomous zone” on Wednesday morning: “At this minute the street will be barricaded to prevent the Senate’s red zone,” they tweeted at 10:39. Then the police’s evacuation armor rolled down the barricade that had previously been cleared by the water cannon – and the residents announced: “We have retired into the house.” At the same time, however, they threatened: “The crash will continue, we won’t let ourselves be driven away!”
Police officers walk along Rigaer Strasse in Berlin-Friedrichshain with a battering ram next to a barricade: Dozens of them were injured in the riot. (Source: Carstensen / dpa)
According to the preliminary results of the police, around 60 officers were injured. The police union (GdP) called for crackdowns after the riots on Wednesday afternoon. There is no legitimation for burning barricades and stone-throwing, “we expect that all representatives of the rule of law stand clearly against these extremists,” said GdP spokesman Benjamin Jendro.
Geisel cancels conference of interior ministers
Meanwhile, Berlin’s Senator for the Interior, Andreas Geisel (SPD), canceled his participation in the Conference of Interior Ministers. This was announced by his administration on Twitter. After the violent attack with stones thrown at the police on Wednesday morning and burning barricades, Geisel emphasized: “Those who set car tires on fire are not fighting for left-wing open spaces, but rather harassing their own neighborhood.”
Fire protection deficiencies in the house – residents announced resistance
The background to the riot is a dispute over fire protection in the “Rigaer 94”: In the building complex consisting of the front building, side wing and rear building, numerous deficiencies were documented years ago: missing escape routes, wall openings, incorrectly laid power lines and barriers in stairwells.
A fire protection test should therefore take place on Thursday. An official fire protection inspector, lawyers and another fire protection expert commissioned by the owner are expected from around 8 a.m., announced a lawyer for the house owner. Residents’ lawyers could also be on site.
The residents had announced resistance. They don’t believe in a “simple fire safety inspection”. Everyone involved knew “that in the last few months, with the help of many friends, this house has been expanded into what is probably the most fire-safe house in the whole city.” They accused the owner and the police of wanting to storm the house and destroy the furnishings in order to then declare it “uninhabitable” and have it evacuated.
The occupied house on Rigaer Straße (archive picture): The fire protection test deals with missing escape routes, wall openings, incorrectly laid power lines and barriers in stairwells. (Source: Christophe Gateau / dpa)
Administrative court: fire protection test permitted
In the legal dispute, the administrative court ruled on Tuesday that the fire protection test was permissible and not objectionable. It rejected an urgent application from residents. The public interest in an examination should be rated higher than the interest of the residents in being spared the fire protection inspection, according to the court.
This assessment was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon by the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court after a complaint from the residents of the house.
Politicians on Wednesday lunchtime in Rigaer Strasse: After the use of tanks and water cannons, the residents of the “Rigaer 94” initially withdrew. (Source: Andreas Rabenstein / dpa)
Demo announced for Thursday evening
For Thursday evening, supporters of the residents announced a demonstration through Friedrichshain. The “Rigaer 94” is one of the last symbols of the left-wing extremist scene in Berlin. Violent criminals often withdraw into the building, even after attacks on police officers on the street.
There are rental contracts for most of the apartments. However, it is unclear who lives there. The homeowner, the police and the relevant authorities are denied entry.
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