Following the storming of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, which brought back memories of the Reichstag building staircase occupation in Berlin at the end of August, Berlin police have increased protection of the German Bundestag out of concern for similar events.
Last August 29, opponents of the German government’s Corona policy had stormed onto the steps of the Reichstag building. However, police officers were able to push back the demonstrators who had come as far as the entrance.
The president of the German parliament, Schäuble, informed the members of the Bundestag in a letter that the Berlin state police had already arranged for reinforcements of their forces in the vicinity of the Reichstag building. Schäuble stressed that he himself had requested a report from the Foreign Office on the riots in the U.S. and that he would seek clarification with the federal government and the state of Berlin as to what conclusions should be drawn from this for the security of the Bundestag. Schäuble explicitly blamed U.S. President Trump for the riots and spoke of an attack on parliament and democracy by a mob whipped up by a president who was voted out of office.
A police spokesman had already said Thursday that protective measures for key buildings in the capital would be “adjusted.”
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder believes that critics of the Corona restrictions in Germany could become radicalized. He told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, referring to the events in Washington, that there was a danger that a Corona mob or a kind of Corona RAF could form in Germany from the AfD environment, which could become increasingly aggressive and even violent.
Angry Trump supporters had invaded the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday. Because of the rioting, the congressional session to confirm Joe Biden as the election winner was interrupted. At least five people were killed and dozens more, including police officers, were injured in the riots.
by Jeremy Abbott – American Correspondent – FN