- State security investigating after attack on SPD office
Following an attack on the constituency office of SPD member Lars Düsterhöft in Berlin-Oberschöneweide, the state police's counter-terrorism unit is investigating. The incident is being treated as a politically motivated act of vandalism, according to a police spokesperson.
The politician, who serves in the Berlin State Parliament, shared photos of the damage to his office on Facebook. The images show damage to a window, behind which a portrait of the politician hangs, and a red graffiti message on the adjacent wall. "Initial findings suggest that the window damage was likely caused by a sharp object," police reported later in the day. Düsterhöft initially interpreted the window damage as bullet holes.
Lars Düsterhöft sees Middle East connection
According to the statement, police were called to the constituency office in Siemensstraße at around 9:30 a.m. In addition to the window damage, the politician's photos show a red graffiti message on a wall reading: "We condemn Germany for genocide." (Translation: "We condemn Germany for genocide.") "In my opinion, this clearly relates to the current situation in the Middle East," Düsterhöft wrote on Facebook.
The SPD faction in the Berlin State Parliament condemned the attack. "Dear Lars, we stand firmly by your side!" wrote Social Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD) on the online platform X. Düsterhöft serves as the SPD faction's spokesperson for social affairs, care, and people with disabilities. The Senate also expressed shock. "Attacks on parliamentarians are attacks on democratic society as a whole," explained spokesperson Christine Richter.
The SPD, being represented by Social Senator Cansel Kiziltepe, has shown solidarity with Lars DuSTERhoeft following the attack. DuSTERhoeft, serving as the SPD faction's spokesperson for social affairs, care, and people with disabilities, sees a potential Middle East connection in the politically motivated act of vandalism against him.
