Germany is investigating the violence that occurred during the pro-People's Protection Units Kurdish gatherings.
German authorities have opened a criminal investigation after two people were injured in violent clashes during pro-YPG demonstrations, reflecting rising tensions during a series of protests that took place in several German cities this week.
In the city of Stuttgart, police confirmed that a 23-year-old man was stabbed with a sharp object, while another 20-year-old man was beaten, after they confronted a larger group of protesters. The stabbing victim was taken to the hospital, while the attackers fled to an unknown location, and police urged witnesses to provide information.
The incident occurred during a demonstration organized on Wednesday evening by supporters of the YPG, a group classified as terrorist, where the protests spiraled out of control as demonstrators set off fireworks, attacked passing vehicles, and clashed with police officers, necessitating a heavy security intervention.
These protests came in response to the military operations carried out by the Syrian government against the YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK, in northeastern Syria. The operations began after the group failed to adhere to a ceasefire agreement, which stipulated a withdrawal to the east of the Euphrates River and the handover of local administration of key areas to Damascus. The demonstrations also targeted the visit of Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara to Berlin.
The unrest spread to other cities, where YPG supporters in Munich occupied the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), accusing the German coalition government of failing to intervene against the Syrian military operations. The police evacuated the building and opened investigations for trespassing. In Hamburg, protesters cut railway lines at the main station, causing widespread disruption to train services, while the police used water cannons and riot vehicles to prevent further escalation.
German authorities estimate that more than 15,000 supporters of YPG and PKK are active within the country, conducting extensive propaganda campaigns. The PKK party is classified as a terrorist organization by the European Union's law enforcement agency (Europol) and has been banned in Germany since 1993, amid warnings of new protests and disruptive actions in the coming days.