Man hoists Palestinian flag in front of Berlin Reichstag building

Berlin man hoists Palestinian flag in front of Reichstag building As of: November 8th, 2026 • 3:05 p.m

A man climbed the almost 30 meter high flagpole in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin. He removed the German flag and raised a Palestinian flag. Now the state security is investigating.

A 22-year-old man climbed the flagpole in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin-Mitte on Sunday, removed the so-called flag of unity and hoisted a flag of Palestine. As the police announced in the early afternoon, the man climbed the mast on Republic Square around 11:30 a.m. He took down the German flag and threw it to the ground. In its place he raised a Palestine flag. Two other men, aged 20 and 32, stood at the foot of the mast and supported him.

The police said they secured the scene and arrested the two supporters. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old remained hanging at the top of the mast, secured himself by a climbing harness. At around 12:30 p.m. he climbed down again on his own. At the same time, police officers with the help of the fire department took down the Palestine flag. According to the police, because the mast's tension system was damaged, the unified flag could not initially be hung up again. According to police, the 22-year-old remains detained for the time being. The two supporters, however, were released after their identities were established and they were sent off.

Further investigations into the suspicion of denigration of the state and its symbols, the suspicion of damaging property that is harmful to the community, the violation of the Berlin Freedom of Assembly Act and the suspicion of trespassing are being carried out by the state police of the State Criminal Police Office.

This is what it normally looks like: The flag of unity flies in front of the Reichstag building (Source: picture alliance/dpa/C.Gateau)

Broadcast: rbb|24, November 8th, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Audio: rbb|24, November 8th, 2026, Patrik Buchmüller