Riots with young people – “They completely misjudged the situation”

Giving away branded clothes: This promise attracted crowds of young people to downtown Hamburg at the weekend. But when the crowd went empty-handed, the mood changed and riots broke out. The question remains: did the giveaway really exist or was it a fake on social media?

When asked on Monday, the police could not say whether any items of clothing were actually given out. She referred to the company's statements. At the weekend, the officials assumed there was a fake call on social media. At first it was said that no one from the organizer was there.

In a TikTok video uploaded to the streetwear company's official channel on Sunday, a Reternity representative said the giveaway actually took place. Pictures that the organizers show not far from the Mönckeberg fountain should prove this. After a short time, the meet-up, as the organizers call the campaign, was canceled due to the rush.

"Unfortunately, we have to admit that we misjudged the situation completely," said the Reternity spokesman. A similar campaign was already carried out in Düsseldorf last year. At that time, around 50 people followed the call. One could never have imagined that “so many thousands of people from all over Germany would travel to Hamburg”. In the video, the fashion label distances itself from "all riots and the misconduct of some people".

Out of frustration, police officers from a group of up to 400 young people were attacked with bottles and firecrackers on Saturday, a police spokesman said on Sunday. Three officers were injured, one of them so seriously that he was unable to work. Two patrol cars were damaged.

Only on New Year's Eve had there been riots in Hamburg between the police and rampaging young people. As a result, a discussion broke out in the Hanseatic city on how to deal with such incidents. The debate has now resumed.