Berlin, January 19 – Police and fire departments in Berlin were busy yesterday, January 18, responding to a series of incidents across the city. Reports included suspected gunshots, multiple car fires, a hit-and-run, and a brutal robbery, keeping emergency services on high alert.
Shots Fired at Leopoldplatz: Blank Cartridges Found
A major police operation was launched at Leopoldplatz on Sunday afternoon following reports of shots being fired. According to a police spokesperson, investigations at the scene are ongoing. Preliminary findings suggest that the weapon used may have been a blank gun, as corresponding blank cartridges were found at the crime scene. Further investigation results are expected shortly.
Arson in Neukölln: Three Cars Ablaze
In the early hours of Sunday morning, unknown perpetrators set fire to three cars in Neukölln. Multiple residents alerted the fire department around 4:30 AM after noticing the burning vehicles in a residential parking area on Am Rötepfuhl street. Two vehicles were completely destroyed, and three other cars parked nearby were damaged by the heat. A fire investigation unit is examining the incident.
Brutal Robbery in Reinickendorf: Driver Attacked with Firearm
On Sunday morning, a 49-year-old ride-sharing driver was brutally robbed by two unknown individuals in Reinickendorf. The incident occurred around 9:00 AM on Lampesteig. One of the perpetrators held a pistol to the driver’s head, demanding cash, while the second searched his backpack. When the driver stated he had no money, the armed assailant repeatedly struck him on the head with the magazine side of the weapon. The driver eventually handed over cash, and the perpetrators also stole a mobile phone from the car before fleeing on foot. The driver managed to activate an emergency button, and investigations are ongoing.
Hit-and-Run in Marienfelde: Woman Left Injured on Street
Police are investigating a hit-and-run incident involving a 40-year-old man who allegedly struck a 71-year-old woman in Marienfelde on Saturday. The driver was traveling on Tirschenreuther Ring towards Lichterfelder Ring around 6:00 PM when he hit the woman as she was crossing the street. The driver then fled the scene. A passerby found the injured woman lying under a parked vehicle and alerted emergency services. The woman was taken to a hospital after initial treatment. The driver later reported to a police station, and further investigations are underway.
Fire in Weißensee Hospital: Suspected Arson
A fire broke out on Saturday at the Alexianer St. Joseph Hospital in Weißensee. The Berlin Fire Department reported that the fire was extinguished, and one person was injured while attempting to put out the flames. Police are investigating for aggravated arson, with a 29-year-old former patient considered a suspect. The fire department was called at 1:38 PM to a five-square-meter therapy room where a shelf was on fire. 32 emergency personnel were deployed to extinguish the blaze.
Accident in Mitte: Pickup Collides with Rental Car
Two people sustained minor injuries in an accident on Saturday evening at Markgrafenstraße in Mitte. According to police, a 26-year-old driver disregarded right-of-way rules at the corner of Zimmerstraße around 11:00 PM, colliding his SUV with a smaller Toyota. Both vehicles sustained significant damage, but the 52-year-old Toyota driver received only abrasions, and another occupant experienced torso pain. Both were treated as outpatients, while the SUV driver was unharmed. The younger driver is now under investigation for negligent bodily harm.
Two Apartment Fires in Reinickendorf
Reinickendorf experienced two apartment fires on Saturday. In the evening, the fire department was called to an apartment fire on Provinzstraße, where several people were treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation. In the afternoon, a fire broke out on the first floor of a two-story residential building on Residenzstraße. No injuries were reported in this incident, and approximately 50 firefighters were deployed.
E-Scooter Rider Seriously Injured in Wedding Accident
A 22-year-old e-scooter rider was seriously injured in an accident involving a car in Wedding. According to police, the man was riding an e-scooter against traffic on a bike lane at night when a car driver, making an illegal turn, struck him. The e-scooter rider was thrown over the car’s hood, sustaining suspected fractures to his head and legs. He was taken to a hospital, but his life is not in danger. The 24-year-old car driver was unharmed. The accident area was closed until the morning, affecting several bus lines, and police have launched an investigation.
Source: Berliner Morgenpost
