GERMANY: BERLIN BRACES ITSELF FOR VIOLENCE FROM SPLINTER GROUPS THREATENING TO DISRUPT UPCOMING VISIT OF U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH

Record ID: 311023

  • Title: GERMANY: BERLIN BRACES ITSELF FOR VIOLENCE FROM SPLINTER GROUPS THREATENING TO DISRUPT UPCOMING VISIT OF U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
  • Date: 16th May 2002
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (MAY 16, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. BANNER BEING LOWERED FROM SCAFFOLDING ON SV: CHURCH, BANNER READING "PEACE FOR THE WORLD" 0.19 2. MV: ACTIVIST LOOKING UP SCAFFOLDING 0.22 3. PAN DOWN: BANNER READING "PEACE FOR THE WORLD, PRETZELS FOR BUSH" 0.31 4. MV: POLICE VAN ARRIVING 0.36 5. MV: ACTIVIST LOOKING DOWN AT POLICE 0.40 6. SV: KLAUS WOWEREIT, BERLIN MAYOR, SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS 0.44 7. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (German) WOWEREIT, SAYING: "President Bush is most welcome to Berlin. Especially the people of Berlin have a special relationship with the American people. We have not forgotten what the Americans have done for the freedom of this city. Following September 11 young people in the east and the west have shown spontaneous solidarity, not officially arranged solidarity. That is why I believe that this city firmly stands by the American people". 1.09 8. MV: EXTERIOR BERLIN POLICE HEADQUARTERS 1.14 9. SCU: SOUNDBITE (German) GERNOT PIESTERT (pronounced PEEstert), BERLIN POLICE AND IN CHARGE OF BUSH VISIT, SAYING: "The president of the United States of course is a state visitor who is highly in danger and who is controversial because of his politics even in the United States and that is why many people here in Germany feel tempted to protest." 1.27 10. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 1.32 11. SCU: POSTER ON WALL SAYING "ATTENTION BUSH IS COMING!" 1.36 12. SCU: JOURNALIST LOOKING AT NEWS RELEASE 1.36 13. SV: SOUNDBITE (German) RAINER BRAUN, AXIS OF PEACE SAYING: "What unites us is one goal: we want to demonstrate with our actions that we are concerned about American politics. This is not about whether or not we like the face of a president. This is about our concern over politics which prepare wars, which bid farewell to treaties, negotiations and compromises with other countries." 2.18 14. VARIOUS EXTERIOR/INTERIORS OF ADLON HOTEL WHERE PRESIDENT BUSH WILL BE STAYING (6 SHOTS) 2.56 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st May 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA21C8DXB76ITIBESIYT47NS6EO
  • Story Text: The German capital is bracing itself for violence from
    splinter groups threatening to disrupt next weeks visit by
    U.S. President George W. Bush.


    Early on Thursday morning (May 16) two peace activists
    lowered a banner from a central Berlin church reading "Peace
    for the World, Pretzels for Bush," referring to an incident
    when the American president said he had choked on a pretzel
    and hurt his forehead because he fell onto a coffee table.

    Security officials expect peaceful protests by tens of
    thousands of demonstrators organised by different groups.

    According to Berlin police, protests are expected similar
    to May 1, when police used water cannons in street battles
    with thousands of protesters who smashed shop windows, threw
    stones and set cars on fire.

    An estimated 8,000 police officers will flank three days
    of demonstrations starting the day before Bush's visit to
    Berlin to meet Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

    "The president of the United States of course is a state
    visitor who is highly in danger and who is controversial
    because of his politics even in the United States and that is
    why many people here in Germany feel tempted to protest,"
    Gernot Piestert, spokesperson for the Berlin police and in
    charge of security during the Bush visit told Reuters.

    Berlin police, backed up by officers from across the
    country and security officials from the United States, have
    said they will not use the "de-escalation" tactic they
    employed on May Day, aimed at dispersing rather than provoking
    crowds.

    During his visit to Berlin President Bush will be staying
    at the posh Adlon Hotel overlooking Brandenburg Gate, once the
    symbol of German division and now of German reunification.

    Filming inside the Adlon was not allowed "due to security
    concerns," according to a spokeswoman for the hotel. Bush will
    have the choice of two presidential suites, one designed in a
    "typical New York apartment style," the other decorated with
    furniture from the Germany of the 1920s.

    Both suites have, among other features, bullet-proof
    windows, reinforced walls and closed circuit television.


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