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Berlin Shop Owner Attacked After Displaying Antisemitism Condemnation Posters
A 67-year-old shopkeeper who uses a wheelchair was repeatedly attacked by groups of youths in Berlin's Kreuzberg neighborhood after displaying posters against antisemitism that referenced the October 7th terror attack by the terrorist organization Hamas. The assaults, which began on Wednesday, October 7, included verbal abuse, pepper spray, and physical beatings.
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What happened
- 01A 67-year-old wheelchair-bound shopkeeper in Berlin was repeatedly attacked by youths after displaying posters against antisemitism.
- 02The assaults began on Wednesday, October 7, the anniversary of the massacre by the terrorist organization Hamas.
- 03The attackers, estimated to be between 10 and 15 years old, pepper-sprayed and beat the shopkeeper, Hans-Georg Lindenau.
- 04Lindenau reported that the youths asked him if he was Jewish and struck him with a starter pistol.
- 05On Friday, a group of up to eight youths on electric scooters damaged the entrance door of the shop.
- 06The State Security Division of the Berlin criminal police is investigating the attacks for a possible antisemitic motive.
- 07Berlin recorded 2,268 antisemitic offenses in 2025, and the organization RIAS warned that the problem remains widespread in 2026.
The first incident occurred on Wednesday evening when about six youths entered the store on Falckensteinstraße, insulted the shopkeeper, Hans-Georg Lindenau, and pepper-sprayed him. The following evening, the group returned, pepper-sprayed him again, and beat him as he prepared to close his shop. Lindenau told the German newspaper Bild that the attackers, whom he estimated to be between 10 and 15 years old, asked him if he was Jewish and struck him with a starter pistol during one of the assaults. On Friday, up to eight youths on electric scooters damaged the store's entrance door.
The Berlin police have assigned the investigation to the State Security Division of the criminal police, which is examining a potential antisemitic motive. Lindenau, a well-known figure in the local left-wing and anti-fascist community, has requested solidarity visits to his shop. The incidents occur amid a significant rise in antisemitic offenses in Berlin, with police recording 2,268 such incidents in 2025.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: The Times of Israel. Read The Times of Israel’s originalThe coverage
4 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre2
- RightNone
- Haredi1
- ArabNone
- Other1
Not in the Left or Right press