On the night of Sunday, May 5, at half past midnight, the Bernese cantonal police were informed that residents of Schützenmattstrasse in Bern were about to take containers out into the street and set them on fire. The deployed emergency services immediately discovered other masked people in Neubrückstrasse who had erected several barricades in the streets. Many uninvolved third parties were also on site.
The deployed emergency services were immediately attacked massively with objects, including stones and bottles, fireworks and lasers. Coercive measures, including rubber shot and irritants, had to be used to protect themselves. A water cannon was also used.
Neubrückstrasse and Schützenmattstrasse had to be closed for several hours due to the operation and barricades in the streets. Once the situation calmed and the barricades could be cleared, the police withdrew from the scene in a coordinated manner.
According to current information, eleven police officers were injured and three had to be hospitalized. The Bernese cantonal police currently do not know whether other people were injured in connection with the events. In total, several patrol vehicles of the Berne cantonal police as well as third-party vehicles were seriously damaged. There was significant material damage.
As part of the ongoing investigations carried out by the Bern-Mittelland Regional Prosecutor’s Office, witnesses are being sought who have made observations in connection with the property damage or who can provide images and videos that enable the perpetrators to be identified. Tips can be received at +41 31 638 81 11.
