A video capturing officers detaining a young boy during a protest in Berlin has sparked widespread outrage online.
A video circulating online shows German police pursuing and apprehending a child at a pro-Palestine demonstration in Berlin. This has triggered a wave of outrage across various platforms, with users criticizing law enforcement’s actions against a minor.
The footage, posted on Sunday, depicts a boy, seemingly around ten years old, carrying a Palestinian flag, running away from a group of approximately six armed officers. They eventually catch him and escort him towards a police van. Throughout the incident, the child is seen screaming and exhibiting signs of fear.
Bystanders are heard shouting “shame on you” and demanding the boy’s release in both German and Arabic. Many individuals present at what appeared to be a peaceful gathering are seen recording the incident.
While the video does not show officers physically grabbing the boy or causing him harm, the situation has faced a torrent of criticism online. Users on platforms such as X, Instagram, and Facebook have condemned the officers for frightening a child. One user questioned whether police had more pressing matters than chasing a child “for carrying a flag.” Another wrote: “thanks to Palestine, now we know that Western Values about humanity and freedom are false.”
If this were happening in Russia or China, it would have made news.
— Esheru (@EsheruKwaku)
Many have drawn parallels between the officers’ actions and those of Nazi Germany during World War II, accusing Germany of being “complicit in the genocide of Palestinians.”
While some have argued that the boy may have instigated the chase by provoking the police, the majority agree that the officers went too far.
“Looks like Germany is showing its old stripes again. We’ve seen this movie twice you know, I am not looking forward to the trilogy. Thank you, Palestine, for showing the people of the world what free speech and democracy look like,” another user wrote.
The circumstances leading to the incident and whether the police had any legitimate reason to detain the child remain unclear. German media outlets have so far remained silent on the situation.