Amnesty criticises police violence at Bern Gaza demo

Amnesty International criticises police violence at Bern Gaza demo Keystone-SDA

Amnesty International Switzerland has criticised the police intervention at a Gaza demonstration in Bern in October as unjustified and excessive. The organisation came to this conclusion on the basis of observations and 180 witness statements.

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“Even though one group caused considerable damage to property, the police reaction was characterised by serious mistakes,” lawyer Alicia Giraudel said in a statement on Tuesday. Peaceful demonstrators and bystanders were injured. Volunteer rescue workers treated at least 326 people.

In particular Amnesty International criticised the kettling strategy – in which protestors are encircled – in its report: it was carried out suddenly and with the use of force without clear warning. As a result, the crowd was unable to disperse. In addition, people in need of protection were endangered by the long duration.

+ Thousands join pro-Palestinian protest in Bern amid clashes with police

The organisation also alleged shortcomings in police communication. Announcements could only be heard directly on Parliament Square, and contradictory instructions caused confusion: first, those present were directed to the railway station via Schauplatzgasse, then via Spitalgasse. The kettling finally took place in the former.

Investigation demanded

In response to an enquiry from Amnesty, the Bern cantonal police stated that they had announced the deployment of the police. The statement by commander Christian Brenzikofer is available to Keystone-SDA. According to the statement, one of the aims of the kettling of the “militant and violent groups” was to enable the peaceful participants to hold a rally.

According to the statement, criticism levelled at the police will also be taken into account at debriefings. Amnesty International welcomes this initiative as a “first positive step” but is calling for a further investigation into the operation.

No charges filed so far

The unauthorised pro-Palestine demonstration on October 11 led to serious riots, with rioters causing millions in property damage. The police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon, among other things. According to the police, 18 officers were injured.

The police checked more than 500 people during the riots. No one has yet been charged, the Bern cantonal police said on enquiry. The investigation is ongoing.

Official reaction

On Tuesday, the Security Directorate of the Canton of Bern contradicted the statements made by Amnesty International Switzerland regarding the Gaza demonstration in Bern. It accuses the organisation of making unsubstantiated claims and trivialising violence.

Amnesty based its report solely on the statements of participants in the demonstration, the directorate said. The report is therefore very one-sided. “None of the statements made by those allegedly affected are backed up by facts,” it said in a statement.

Amnesty’s approach does not contribute to an objective reappraisal of the events, it continued. It was an “unauthorised and extremely violent demonstration” at which the police were attacked.

This article has been updated to include the reaction of the Security Directorate of the Canton of Bern.

Adapted from German by AI/ts

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