Irish activist struck by policeman during Berlin protest sparks police investigation

Berlin authorities have initiated an internal inquiry following the circulation of videos showing an Irish demonstrator at a pro-Palestinian rally being struck by an officer, prompting Ireland’s foreign ministry to express concern.

Recorded footage shared online depicted activist Kitty O’Brien being hit by a police officer and forcibly removed from the event in Berlin’s Mitte district last Thursday, with visible injuries.

A local publication, *Der Tagesspiegel*, reported that O’Brien sustained a fractured arm during the altercation, though this claim has not been independently confirmed.

Additional video material shows an individual resembling O’Brien, who identifies as non-binary, directing accusations at officers, including calling them “genocide supporters” and “acting like Nazis.” The officer in question then appears to hit them twice in the face. The footage does not clearly establish whether the strikes were deliberate.

A police representative confirmed awareness of the incident and stated the officer involved had been identified.

“Berlin police are examining whether the officer’s response was appropriate, as part of a wider inquiry into possible excessive use of force,” the spokesperson said.

Authorities reported that O’Brien received medical attention from emergency services for undisclosed injuries while also facing an investigation for alleged verbal abuse and resistance against law enforcement.

It remains unclear whether O’Brien has lodged a formal complaint.

Irish officials, including the ambassador to Germany, Maeve Collins, reportedly communicated unease to German authorities over the incident.

Zoë Lawlor of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign stated the footage necessitated a firm response. “This was a violent attack. The conduct of German police in handling Palestine-related protests has been alarming,” she said.

Lawlor mentioned efforts to raise funds for O’Brien, who is reportedly hospitalized and will require recovery time.

Demonstrators gathered outside the German embassy in Dublin on Saturday. Catherine Stocker, a local councilor and relative of O’Brien, cited injuries including a broken arm and nerve damage.

“These demonstrators, many of them young Irish citizens, are advocating for justice under international law for Gaza and Palestine—something increasingly restricted in Berlin,” she told a national broadcaster.

Stocker called on the Irish government to condemn the police conduct as “undemocratic.”

The German foreign office did not respond to requests for comment.

The protest had been arranged by several pro-Palestinian organizations, including Irish Bloc Berlin, which describes itself as a collective supporting Palestinian rights, in response to the killing of a Palestinian journalist.