Berlin students block schools in conscription protest; scuffles, teen detained

Students blocked the entrances to the Andreas-Gymnasium in Berlin's Friedrichshain district on Friday morning, and the Tagesspiegel newspaper reported that a second secondary school in the area was also affected. The initiative "School Strike Against Conscription" is demanding more education funding and opposes compulsory military service. The school told parents that access was blocked, and teachers supervised pupils and lessons would begin once the gates were opened.

A police spokesman said about 30 officers were deployed. He said the students' protest was peaceful, but scuffles with officers broke out on the edge of a second gathering of 20 to 30 people behind the school. A 17-year-old who police said is not a student at the school was provisionally detained on suspicion of injuring a 67-year-old resident who had tried to stop youths from removing waste bins. Police opened investigations into suspected breach of the peace, bodily harm, assault on officers and property damage.

The protests echo student demonstrations in France. A solidarity rally with 200 registered participants is planned for Saturday in the Schoeneberg district. Stephan Weh, Berlin head of the GdP police union, warned that radical or even extremist groups could latch on to the protests.