Berlin news · 7 November 2026
Berlin Left Party leadership asks Vanessa Emde to give up her seat
The Berlin Left Party's state executive has asked Neukölln MP Vanessa Emde to return her mandate, citing repeated breaches of a mandate-holder agreement. If she refuses, the parliamentary group may move to expel her.
Berlin police take swan into custody at Oberbaumbrücke
A video shows Berlin police catching a swan on the Oberbaumbrücke and putting it in a patrol van. The clip drew much laughter and some questions about the police online.
Berlin Gendarmenmarkt Christmas tree arrives late after technical faults on transporter
A 20-metre Douglas fir for the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market reached Berlin late after police found technical faults on its transporter. The tree waited for hours at a rest stop on the A10.
Berlin Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz opens early, church objects
The Charlottenburg Christmas market at the Gedächtniskirche will open on 13 November instead of 23 November, before Totensonntag. The church's pastor criticises the date as disrespectful, and the retail association has distanced itself.
Charité nurses vote for indefinite strike while talks continue
98 percent of Verdi members who took part in a ballot at Berlin's Charité back an indefinite nursing strike. Talks on renewing the workload-relief agreement continue next week.
Fire spreads from conveyor belt to boiler house at Berlin's Moabit power plant
A conveyor belt fire at the Moabit heating plant spread to the boiler house on Friday, bringing 106 firefighters to the scene. No one was injured, and the blaze was under control by late morning.
Driver dies after crashing into tree in Berlin-Hermsdorf
A driver died on Friday afternoon after his car left the road and hit a tree on Frohnauer Straße in Hermsdorf, Berlin. The cause of the crash is still unclear.
Three women rob 92-year-old in his Alt-Hohenschönhausen flat
An unknown woman hugged a 92-year-old at his door in Alt-Hohenschönhausen and pushed him inside, where two accomplices searched the flat. The women fled with loot, and the man was injured.
Berlin police search for missing 13-year-old Lisa Tạ; homicide unit investigates
Berlin police are searching for 13-year-old Lisa Tạ from Marzahn, missing since Tuesday morning. A homicide commission has taken over because prosecutors see an initial suspicion of a criminal offence.
14 arrested in Berlin and Brandenburg raids on suspected drug gang
Police arrested 14 men and seized drugs, cash and weapons in searches at 28 addresses in Berlin and Brandenburg. Prosecutors have investigated 20 suspects for about two years.
Investigations into Berlin SPD leader Krach paused due to immunity
The Hannover public prosecutor's office has paused its investigations into Berlin SPD state leader Steffen Krach. He became a member of parliament last week and now has parliamentary immunity.
Reports: Inditex may take over Peek & Cloppenburg building on Tauentzienstraße
According to industry reports, the Spanish fashion group Inditex is set to take over the Peek & Cloppenburg building at Tauentzienstraße 19 in Berlin. Peek & Cloppenburg is reportedly leaving its large department stores in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt.
Berlin festival honours Wolf Biermann 50 years after expatriation
Fifty years after he was expelled from East Germany, Wolf Biermann hosted a festival of the critical spirit at Berlin's Kino International. Writers read poems, Angela Merkel gave a speech, and guests told stories.
Berlin court jails IS supporter who returned from Turkey for 3 years, 3 months
Berlin's Kammergericht sentenced a 35-year-old woman to three years and three months in prison for membership in the terrorist group Islamic State. She was arrested in April on returning to Germany from Turkey.
Allies of Raed Saleh form new current within Berlin SPD
People close to former SPD parliamentary group leader Raed Saleh have formed a new current in the Berlin SPD. The Tagesspiegel asks whether Saleh is working on a comeback.