Berlin police raid more than ten properties in operation against firearms crime

Berlin police began a large-scale operation against firearms crime on Monday evening, 9 November. According to police spokesman Florian Nath, more than 300 officers were deployed to carry out court-ordered search warrants at more than ten properties, with the aim of finding evidence. The forces include Berlin's special operations command and special units of the federal police. Tagesspiegel reports, citing its own information, that this means the GSG 9.

One focus is the Hells Angels. Police arrived with an armored vehicle at the group's clubhouse in Biesdorf, in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district. Nath said some private homes of people considered part of the Hells Angels or their circle were also being searched. Further searches linked to weapons law proceedings were taking place in homes in Neukölln, Mitte, Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Pankow, Lichtenberg and Treptow-Köpenick, plus one location in Brandenburg.

The measures began shortly after 7 p.m., and Nath expected them to continue into the night. He said it remained to be seen whether other allegations would arise beyond the weapons law proceedings.

The operation is led by "Ferrum", a special police unit formed last autumn after shootings became more frequent in Berlin. Police say it has opened more than 720 investigations as of 23 October. In the first half of 2026, police recorded 585 offences involving firearms, including 324 threats and 261 shots fired.