The police chief of Berlin has cautioned Jews and gay individuals to conceal their identities in certain parts of the city with significant Arab populations.
Barbara Slowik stated, “There are areas of the city where I would advise people wearing a kippah or those who are openly gay to exercise caution. These neighborhoods are predominantly inhabited by individuals of Arab origin, some of whom express sympathies for terrorist groups and are often openly hostile toward Jews.”
In an interview with Berliner Zeitung, Slowik clarified that while violent crimes against Jewish people are rare, any such incident is one too many. She emphasized that her aim was not to stigmatize any particular group but to address the reality of the situation without defaming any community.
The warning comes after reports that players from Makkabi Berlin’s youth team were pursued by a group of Arab youths armed with sticks and knives following a recent match.
The players, aged between 13 and 16, were reportedly chased through Neukölln, an area known for its large Arab and Turkish communities, while being taunted with chants like “free Palestine” and “f***ing Jews.”
Schwarz-Weiss Neukölln, the opposing team in the match, condemned the actions and pledged to identify and expel those responsible.
