Violence and Destroyed Posters: Hundreds of Criminal Offenses in Berlin's Election Campaign
During Berlin's election campaign, police have recorded more than 1,200 damaged campaign posters and 39 attacks on party members and campaign workers since the beginning of August. The AfD was affected most frequently. Other parties also reported incidents.
- Criminal offenses occurred repeatedly during Berlin's election campaign
- These included insults, destruction of posters, and also violence against campaign workers
- One party was particularly affected
During Berlin's election campaign, several hundred criminal offenses occurred between early August and mid-September, with most targeting the AfD. This emerges from statistics compiled by Berlin police, which rbb has obtained exclusively. According to the figures, police registered a total of 39 attacks on party members and campaign workers. These include insults, intimidation, and even physical violence. Police note that these are only registered cases, and the actual number of unreported incidents is likely higher. Figures for criminal offenses during previous elections were not initially available.
AfD Supporters Most Frequently Affected
AfD supporters were affected most often, with 18 reported cases. Representatives of the Greens and the Left were each targeted in eight cases. The SPD recorded three cases, while the CDU and BSW each reported one. Campaign posters were damaged far more frequently — in at least 1,252 cases. Here too, the AfD was the most frequent target, with 801 destroyed posters. AfD posters were damaged most often in Treptow-Köpenick (282), Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (155), and Neukölln (91). This was followed by damage to posters belonging to the CDU (148), independent candidates (102), the Left (95), and the SPD (88). In addition, 16 criminal offenses against party facilities, including party offices and information stands, have been reported to police since August 2. Nine of these cases targeted the AfD, with six of them in Treptow-Köpenick alone. The SPD was affected in three cases, and the Greens and FDP in two cases each.
Before the Election: Physical Attacks on Campaign Workers
Physical attacks on workers at campaign stands were already reported earlier this week. On Tuesday, a woman was targeted at a CDU stand in the Schöneberg district, while AfD supporters were attacked in the Gropiusstadt and Reinickendorf districts, according to police. An AfD supporter in Reinickendorf was also attacked on Wednesday. The state security division is investigating all incidents.
Broadcast: rbb|24, 17.09.2026, 6:20 PM | Audio: rbb|24, 17.09.2026, Anja Meyer
