This was last at time of RAF: that police sought publicly motivated suspected offenders on left. Images of criminals are usually published only if y are to have committed a felony such as murder, serious assault or armed robbery. But since G20 riots in July, Hamburg has become a bit different. This is what today is all about: The police are now looking for 104 people to take part in riots and looting during summit of Heads of State and Government with photos and videos.

It seems almost as if police were going to make up for failures y had been accused of after devastating days of July. In summer, she had set up a black block commission. Since n, 163 officials have seen thousands of videos and images of riots, trying to identify perpetrators. 3,340 investigative proceedings are currently underway, says police president Ralf Meyer. In case of Public Prosecutor's Office, files of 372 known and 306 not yet identified are suspects. 63 indictments are written so far.

Until now, only suspects who have been in custody since G20 week have stood before hamburger courts. Their processes must be negotiated as quickly as possible, so that in event of an acquittal or a mild sentence, y are swiftly out of prison. Therefore, so far, y were mostly foreign defendants – y arrive more quickly in custody because court often puts m at risk of escaping.

Even if you haven't thrown anything

The fact that re have been comparatively few accusations, however, has yet anor reason: in many cases re is a lack of sufficient evidence. Especially in investigations in so-called Ronden Barg complex. On morning of July 7th, re was a clash between demonstrators and police in Hamburg district of Bahrenfeld. These riots have long been a symbol of resistance to meeting of Heads of State or Government. Not only because demonstrators are supposed to have gone with stones and pyrotechnics on policemen. Also because police were extremely rigorous against participants: in arrest, 14 men and women were injured, eleven of which were even heavy. A total of 75 investigative proceedings against suspected participants had been initiated by Public Prosecutor's office – but in case of Italian Fabio V, who was in custody for over four months, he has not yet been served in any or case.

In this context, re is also nationwide raid of police and prosecutor's office on 4 December. Through m, investigators have tried to get furr evidence. The accusations against demonstrators weigh heavily – and at same time are legally on extremely shaky legs. The participants are usually accused of heavy land trespassing. That means y should have committed violence out of a crowd. Individual stones and fireworks have actually flown at Ronden barge. The accusations are also directed against demonstrators who had not even thrown anything. Like Fabio V.

Its process will end at beginning of year and have a signal effect for furr investigations: if now 19-year-old is actually convicted of heavy land trespassing, many demonstrators will post in coming months from Prosecutor's Office. If he is acquitted, furr accusations are likely to crumble.

"I let myself be swept away by group dynamics"

In order to substantiate accusation of country friedensbruches, investigators must prove that violence of individuals is attributable to all demonstrators. That y approved and wanted m, even if y had not thrown anything mselves. But how is this to be shown? The simplest way to plan and prepare toger. The police refore have a strong interest in seeing mails and text messages that have been exchanged in advance within Ronde Barg group. At 22 participants of demonstration, police had searched apartments in early December and took many mobile phones and storage media. According to police president Ralf Meyer, aim was to reveal "backgrounds, connections and structures of left scene".

However, whatever Ronde barge complex goes on: it only throws a small spotlight on what happened during summit days in Hamburg. The local courts have now led around 20 processes, and it has clearly shown that only fewest rioters that had put city in a state of emergency have a political background. Many hardly knew about meeting of Heads of State or Government. They simply mixed in, spurred on by crowd and feeling that on se days on street everything was possible.

So for example Benjamin S. The hamburger says of himself that he is completely apolitical. In a G20 riot night, however, 30-year-old was ravaged by Hamburg Hill quarter. He had torn traffic signs out of anchorage, built barricades, threw bottles at cops, looted business and areed with a whisky bottle to an ATM. And why? "I let myself be swept away by group dynamics," he said in his trial. He was sentenced to three years and three months in prison.

The Internal investigations Department of Hamburg Interior Authority also investigates police colleagues. More than 100 police officers are suspected of having committed bodily injury in office, deprivation of liberty or coercion. No one can say wher re will ever be any process of suspected police violence. There have been no accusations against police officers.

Date Of Update: 19 December 2017, 12:03