Autonomous action in Berlin-Mitte: squatters invade the site of the former “Köpi” car park – Berlin
The area of the preferred car park on Köpenicker Strasse in Berlin-Mitte was occupied on Good Friday. At around 6:30 p.m., up to 20 men and women climbed over the fences to the property, set off fireworks, firecrackers and censers, filled the area with music and hoisted banners. Speeches in German and English will follow.
The squatters called on possible supporters via Twitter to gather in front of the premises. For years, dozens of women and men lived in permanently placed camping and construction trailers on the property directly next to the house “Köpi 137” inhabited by autonomous people – until the owner had the site vacated in autumn 2021. On Friday, the squatters announced that the new owner had not built on the area, but was leaving it idle for speculation.
There had been clashes with the police around the camp in 2021, and units were stationed around the site on Friday evening. Initially, the police did not intervene, but confirmed an operation. The situation is still calm. According to the police, it is up for debate whether the action was trespassing or an occupation of the premises. The further procedure would also depend on whether the owner files a criminal complaint. The state security agency responsible for political offenses is involved in assessing the situation.
The well-known initiative “Køpi Stays” published a statement on Friday evening, in which the occupation of the place was announced. It says: “We are here to reclaim what is ours.”
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When the caravan camp was cleared on October 15, 2021, there were not only violent protests in Berlin, the police arrested 76 people and 46 emergency services were injured. Last fall there was various damage to property and arson in Berlin, which was attributed to sympathizers of the Wagenplatz residents.
The old building at Köpenicker Straße 137 – the symbolic scene house next to the preferred car park – is still inhabited by autonomous people. It is said that there are leases that were signed with a housing association after the occupation in 1990 and later extended.