Riot cops are patrolling around the squatted Teppich Fabrik (Carpet factory) in the Friedrichshain district in Berlin. A spokesperson of the cops told German daily that they want to prevent that supporters come to the squat. In Rigaer Strasse tension is high after authorities allowed to block the street for the coming 18 months for another gentrification project.
The old Teppich Fabrik in the Friedrichshain district was quietly squatted several months ago. Owner of the building is Bernd Freier, founder and owner of the fashion company S.Oliver. The 2.2 billion strong owner wants the cops to evict the building but a planned eviction on August 3 didn’t take place. According to German media reports Freier did not go to court yet. Police authorities said they need a court decision before they can evict the building.
On July 28 there was a conflict between securities of the private company Kuhr Security. Cops came to the Teppich Fabrik and according to police authorities some objects were thrown. On the second of August riot cops in full gear blocked the entrance of the squat (image below) and electricity was cut off. But the squatters are highly motivated and want to continue the fight for free spaces in Berlin.
The owner of the building wants to build luxury apartments on the spot where the Teppich Fabrik is standing now. Another boost of the gentrification process in the Friedrichshain district. Activists are calling to come and support the Teppich Fabrik squat.
Tension is also high at Rigaer Strasse, which is also in Berlin’s Friedrichshain district. Local authorities closed the street with a wooden wall for the coming 18 months (pictures below). Investor company CG Gruppe requested the barricade in order to build luxury apartments in the Rigaer Strasse. Neighbours are protesting regularly with potts and pand against the closure of the street for another gentrification project in Friedrichshain. On the second of August activists blocked the Frankfurter Allee.
Civil- and riot cops are harassing people in the street. People are being beaten and detained without a warning. But the resistance will not stop. Today (August 5), at 5pm, there will be a meeting of neighbours to discuss further actions.
Aktivisten haben 10 Minuten die Frankfurter Allee blockiert als Protest gegen die Sperrung der #Rigaer Str wegen Luxusbau der CG-Gruppe pic.twitter.com/WAoiJY65yl
— Florian Boillot (@flotopress) August 2, 2017
