A young man holds a knife in his hand (symbolic photo) Photo: picture alliance / Zoonar | Elmar Gubisch
From BZ/dpa
In Berlin 2022, more and more children and young people have attracted attention due to acts of violence. Police spoke of more than 500 suspects, significantly more than in previous years.
There will also be a significant increase in the total number of adults and youth in 2022 in so-called brutal crimes such as robbery and bodily harm. This also applies to the comparison with 2019, the year before the coronavirus pandemic, said police chief Barbara Slowik of the German news agency. “In a long-term comparison, this year we have the highest exposure in years.”
From March to July in particular, the police noticed a sharp increase in such acts. They often took place in parks and green spaces such as Hasenheide, Gleisdreieck, Monbijou-Park, Treptower Park, Mauerpark, Leopoldplatz and also in Spandau, Slowik said.
Slowik pointed out: “What worries me personally is the increase in acts involving children and young people as perpetrators.” , compared to 234 the previous year.
“This is a significant increase.” Again and again, children and young people have a knife with them and use it. “Unfortunately it has increased. We are watching this development very closely.”
