Campaign helper in Berlin-Adlershof struck and injured by cyclist

Parties have been permitted since last Sunday to put up posters for the elections to the Abgeordnetenhaus and to the Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen. As reported by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, this regulation applies with regard to the election date on 20 September. As a result, campaign postering teams have been deployed in greater numbers across several Berlin districts to complete the parties' advertising preparations.

The exact sequence of events of the attack is still under investigation. The police are examining whether the cyclist deliberately rode into the helper or whether it was an unintentional collision in road traffic. Witnesses are asked to contact the responsible precinct. However, according to police, an initial questioning at the scene points to a deliberate manoeuvre.

Investigations and witness appeal

The case is attracting attention against the backdrop of the upcoming elections in Berlin. Campaign helpers are out across the city over several weeks to put up, maintain or take down posters. In doing so, they often move along busy roads, cycle paths or riverside promenades, which can increase the risk of conflicts with other road users.

Michael Ernst, spokesperson for the Berlin Police, pointed out that officers are recording the facts of the case and securing evidence at the scene. Tips from the public are expressly welcomed. The investigation is being conducted by a specialised unit which is, among other things, examining whether political motives played a role.

Security situation surrounding the campaign

The Berlin Police announced that further investigation results would be published in the coming days. Should the initial suspicion of a deliberate attack be confirmed, the public prosecutor's office would have to decide on the precise charge. Until then, the 47-year-old is regarded as an injured person whose recovery is the priority.

Election campaigns in Berlin are regularly accompanied by property damage to posters and verbal disputes. Physical attacks on helpers, by contrast, are comparatively rare in the assessment of security authorities. The incident in Adlershof therefore stands out from the usual pattern and is being handled with particular care.

The attachment of campaign posters to lamp posts, fences or bridge railings along Ernst-Ruska-Ufer usually takes place in the early evening hours, when rush-hour traffic eases off and fewer pedestrians are out. According to the police, there was still considerable activity on the riverside promenade on Friday evening at around 18:45.

According to the investigators, for the clarification of the incident it is important that any further witnesses come forward. What matters in particular is the exact course of the cycle ride and any calls or gestures immediately before the collision. Footage from dashcams or mobile phones could also be relevant for the reconstruction.