Background Middle East
Masked individuals have occupied the president’s office at the Free University Berlin, causing chaos and damage. The police have confirmed the incident, which is believed to be linked to pro-Palestinian protests that have been ongoing at the university in recent months.
According to reports, there were physical altercations between the masked individuals and university staff, resulting in property damage. University officials reported that technology was destroyed, walls were vandalized, and doors were broken down during the occupation. All staff members were able to safely evacuate the building, and there are no longer any occupiers inside.
The occupation is said to be a response to the presence of police on campus and the university’s past evictions of protest camps. A banner was unfurled outside the president’s office with a message threatening to destroy technology if police entered the building. The university spokesperson confirmed significant damage was done, but fortunately, no one was physically harmed.
In the midst of the chaos, university staff locked doors to protect themselves, and they are now receiving psychological support to cope with the traumatic event. The spokesperson mentioned that the protesters targeted the president’s office due to their dissatisfaction with recent university actions.
This incident is just the latest in a series of pro-Palestinian protests at the Free University Berlin, with students occupying lecture halls and setting up protest camps on campus. The ongoing tensions between protesters and university officials have escalated, leading to this dramatic occupation of the president’s office. The university community is now left to pick up the pieces and address the aftermath of this shocking event.