Police taken aback by Germans' actions on the darkest night of the year
In the heart of Berlin, Walpurgis Night, usually marked by rowdy demonstrations, was relatively tame this year. Although police were targeted with eggs and had to deal with some banned slogans, they managed to keep the disorderly situations at bay, such as cars flipped over and trash cans set ablaze, which are common on this night. Police presence was heavy, with 2500 officers patrolling Berlin, and more to come for May 1st events, similar to previous years[1].
However, the calm was shattered on April 20, 2025, when a shooting incident occurred near the Hilton hotel in central Berlin[1][2]. The incident took place around 4:45 AM, and unknown assailants opened fire in the area. Unfortunately, a young man was injured and rushed to the hospital for immediate surgery on a non-life-threatening hand wound[1][2][3].
It's believed that the shooting stemmed from a dispute between two groups of young men at a nearby nightclub, Bricks[1]. Tensions escalated, and one individual, who had initially been restrained by security, managed to escape and open fire on someone outside the club before fleeing the scene in a white Mercedes A-Class vehicle[1]. Police are actively investigating the incident, having cordoned off the area to gather more information about the suspects and the circumstances surrounding the shooting[2][4]. Stay tuned for updates as the investigation continues.
I, as a general-news reporter, was surprised to witness fireworks of a different kind in Berlin on April 20, 2025, when a shooting incident disrupted the peace on Walpurgis Night. In stark contrast to the usual disorderly situations, police officers were rushed to the Hilton hotel area, where an injured young man was found following the shooting. Despite the heavy police presence during Walpurgis Night, crime and justice issues seemed to overshadow the city's politics, as the shooting incident made headlines in general-news outlets. The investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, with the police trying to prevent any similar incidents from occurring in the future.
