Masked Group Burns Barricades During Police Operation in Rigaer Straße

Berlin police moved in on Rigaer Straße in Friedrichshain, the city's best-known left-wing stronghold, on the night of 14/15 October 2026. During the operation a masked group set fire to barricades of pallets, tyres and bulky waste that had been pulled across the street, forcing fire crews in to extinguish the blazes while officers in riot gear held the perimeter. Several police vehicles were damaged by thrown stones and bottles; no serious injuries were reported. The operation was linked to tensions around the long-contested house at Rigaer 94. Local politicians again called for a lasting police presence in the street, while left-wing groups condemned the raid as provocation. The incident is the latest chapter in a years-long standoff between activists in the house project and the Berlin interior administration.