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Racist attacks on police officers: Braunschweig under fire!
In October 2025 there was a racist incident against a police officer in Braunschweig, which led to an investigation.
Racist attacks on police officers: Braunschweig under fire!
What’s new in Northern Germany? In September 2025, an incident in a pub in Braunschweig caused a stir when a police officer was harassed with racist insults by a football fan. This incident raises questions about society's appreciation of police officers. Police Chief Thomas Ring spoke in an interview with NDR about how the police are prepared for such incidents and what measures they will take to help those affected. An investigation is currently underway against the perpetrator.
The responsible police department in Braunschweig has been relying on training for years that prepares officers for offensive crimes and disrespectful behavior. Ring has seen a worrying increase in disrespect for law enforcement in society. There are around 200 officers with a migrant background working in the police force, which makes up around eight percent of the total workforce. Although there are no specific statistics on racist insults against police officers with a migration background, this number already shows that diversity is increasingly represented in the police ranks.
Preparing for the challenge
The police officers' training also includes resilience training in order to be able to respond to offensive and aggressive statements. The police also offer programs that focus on professional handling of conflict situations. The proportion of young police officers with a migrant background is increasing; in training this is over 15 percent. Racial insults between colleagues are rare, but they are taken seriously. There are clear service agreements that require professional behavior in the workplace.
A social problem?
However, the incident in the Braunschweig pub was not the only one. In addition to the insults, swastikas and Holocaust denials were also posted, which illustrates the worrying development in society. The phenomenon was documented by researchers who accompanied the Lower Saxony police for over a year. The police union warns that there should be no hasty judgments here. Rather, it is important to look at the structures within the police and beyond.
The situation is a reflection of the social problems that many institutions face. “There’s something going on,” they say for a reason. The question remains: How can we change the climate of fear and disrespect in society? More and more people are aware that respectful cooperation and education can improve the image of police work and its officers.
For more background on the media's role in educating people on such issues, it's worth taking a look at the cross-border reports from HLN, a news channel that specializes in reporting on social issues. Such media reporting keeps society in a dialogue about respect and tolerance and can therefore contribute to solving these social challenges.