Violent clashes between Syrians in Düsseldorf over Israeli and Turkish flags
In the German city of Düsseldorf, violent clashes erupted on the evening of Sunday, July 20, between two Syrian groups in front of Hauptbahnhof, after two demonstrations intersected; one organized by Druze and Kurdish activists to protest what they described as violations against the Druze minority in Syria, and the other to support the Syrian transitional government head Ahmad al-Shaar and his regime. Tensions began when activists in the Kurdish-Druze demonstration raised slogans supporting Israel, and the pro-regime group responded with chants supporting Turkey. This verbal exchange ignited the atmosphere, and tensions escalated rapidly, especially with the presence of Israeli and Turkish flags, which increased mutual provocation between the two sides.
The background of this tension dates back to clashes that erupted in the Sweida province in southern Syria between Druze fighters and Bedouins on July 13, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,100 people, including at least 298 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Both sides exchange accusations of committing massacres. In Düsseldorf, slogans turned into insults, then into physical violence. Plastic bottles, stones, and shoes were thrown back and forth, leading to physical confrontations. The police intervened with a large force to try to separate the two groups, but the confrontations recurred.
According to the police, seven people were injured, including four police officers. A young supporter of the regime collapsed inside Hauptbahnhof and paramedics had to resuscitate him, before it was later confirmed that he had been discharged from the hospital. The police have not identified the party that started the violence, and investigations are still ongoing.
After the incident, the Ministry of the Interior in North Rhine-Westphalia expressed its concern, warning that the ongoing conflict in southern Syria could spill over into the state's territory.
It was clarified that the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, especially the Syrian conflict, has a direct impact on internal security in Germany, where the situation was described as a "growing threat level" that could lead to disturbances and crimes during public gatherings.