Germany: Berlin Police Chief advises Jewish, LGBTQ+ people to avoid 'Arab neighbourhoods '

Speaking to Berliner Zeitung, a daily newspaper based in Berlin, she stated, "There are areas, and we need to be honest here, where I would advise people who wear a kippah or are openly gay or lesbian to be more careful." 

Slowik pointed to neighbourhoods with considerable Arab populations as hotspots for anti-Semitism and homophobia, often tied to sympathies for extremist groups.

"Unfortunately, open anti-Semitism is displayed towards people of Jewish faith and origin in these areas," she said.

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, Berlin police have initiated over 6,200 investigations, mostly concerning online hate speech and anti-Semitic graffiti.

Around 1,300 cases involve violence, primarily against police officers during anti-Israel protests. Slowik noted that violent crimes against Jewish individuals remain relatively low but stressed that "even one incident is too many."

The statement comes after a violent attack on the Makkabi Berlin youth football team in Neukölln, a district with a large Arab and Turkish population.

Armed with sticks and knives, a mob ambushed the 13- to 16-year-old players while shouting "Free Palestine" and anti-Semitic slurs.

The team is now under police protection. In a separate incident, a Makkabi fan was assaulted in a café for wearing the club’s Star of David scarf.

Founded in the 1970s by Holocaust survivors, Makkabi Berlin was Germany’s first Jewish sports club established after World War II.

Investigations into the recent attacks are ongoing, with the opposing team vowing to expel the perpetrators.

Slowik’s comments have sparked strong reactions on social media, reflecting growing concerns about safety in Berlin.

These incidents highlight broader issues of racial and religious tensions across Europe.

France is also witnessing similar tensions, while in the Netherlands, protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict have escalated.

Far-right groups across the continent have also targeted immigrant communities, further fuelling divisions in multicultural societies grappling with rising nationalism and polarisation.