- Scanty Convictions Following Disruptions at the Reichstag Edifice
Four years post the upheaval at the Parliament Building in Berlin, eleven individuals have been slapped with fines. In ten instances, the verdicts have been upheld, stemming from charges such as disruption of peace or employing insignia of unlawful entities, as the Berlin Prosecutor's Office communicated to DPA.
However, a significant portion of the 320 instances initiated by the police remain unresolved. Only in 81 scenarios, suspects were identified, with over 60 instances being scrapped due to insufficient evidence. In other instances, these matters were combined with other cases under the purview of the prosecution office. One incident in Berlin is still ongoing, the spokesperson shared.
Demonstrators breach police line
On August 29, 2020, thousands rallying against Covid-19 regulations protested in Berlin's administrative district. Among them were right-wing extremists, self-proclaimed "citizens of the Reich," and conspiracy theorists. Hundreds of protesters stormed a police barrier at the Parliament Building and surged up the stairs, waving flags. The scene saw only a handful of law enforcement officials, yet they managed to quell the mob.
Approximately two and a half months following the occurrence, on November 18, 2020, outbreaks of violence and brutal assaults on police officers ensued in the administrative district. Around 9,000 people had gathered to demonstrate against the Covid-19 policies as the Parliament discussed measures to shield the population during the pandemic.
The inquiries into both episodes culminated in 320 cases overall. The spokesperson couldn't offer insights regarding the proportion of these instances connected to the event infamously known as the "Parliament Building storming."
In line with the spokesperson's disclosures, fines ranging from €1,000 to €4,500 were levied, with daily fines between €50 and €120. The frequency of daily fines depends on the gravity of the offense, significantly impacting the jail term in case of non-payment. Additionally, the offender's income factors into the fines calculation.
The Berlin Prosecutor's Office provided information to the German Press Agency (DPA) about the fines and verdicts in relation to the disruptions at the Parliament Building. Several individuals involved in the "Parliament Building storming" incident are still under investigation by the authorities.
