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BERLIN

Sixth woman in Berlin attacked by cyclist with ‘unknown liquid’

A sixth woman has reported being attacked in Berlin by a man on a bicycle with an unknown liquid after other women were similarly sprayed with acid. Now police have a more detailed description of the suspect.

Sixth woman in Berlin attacked by cyclist with 'unknown liquid'
File photo: DPA.

It is not yet known whether the six cases are connected, but the modus operandi appears to be the same: A man on a bicycle rides up to a woman walking at night and sprays her with a liquid. 

This is what happened to a 41-year-old walking late on Monday around midnight in the eastern Prenzlauer Berg district, police report.

The woman told police that a man rode by her and sprayed an as of yet unknown substance in the direction of her head. Police said that luckily the woman acted quickly to use her scarf to block the liquid from hitting her, meaning she was left unharmed.

The man then rode away, but the woman was able to give police a description: He was between 35 and  45 years old with light skin, of medium height and a strong-looking build.

He was wearing a black jacket, black trousers, a black baseball cap with a straight brim, and a dark belt bag. His bike is said to have a distinct handlebar.

Police told The Local that it is not yet known what kind of liquid the man used against the woman on Monday, but in four of the five other similar cases, the substance was identified as battery acid. 

The first such cases were reported in December when three different women in the Prenzlauer Berg area and nearby Weißensee were injured after being sprayed by a man with a liquid.

One of the women said the cyclist may have used a water gun when he attacked her before midnight. She sustained light injuries and reported feeling burning pain to her face.

Just a few minutes later, another woman was sprayed by someone in the face and as a result went to a doctor.

The next day, a female pedestrian was also sprayed by a cyclist, then ran home to call an ambulance to receive treatment for her eyes.

In these three incidents, police described the man as having a thin build, a dark and wide jacket, and a beige-coloured hat. In at least one of these cases, the substance was identified as battery acid.

In January, a woman’s face was slightly injured by a cyclist spraying liquid at her in Prenzlauer Berg at around 11pm. Police did not have a description of the suspect in this case.

A woman at the end of last month was walking in the eastern district of Friedrichshain around midnight when she was sprayed in the face with what fire services later identified as a kind of acid. She could only describe the man to police as wearing dark clothing.
 
A police spokeswoman told The Local that this woman had to remain in hospital for a week due to injuries to her face.
 
Police are still investigating whether the cases are connected.

“What happened at the crime scenes appears to be the same and we are investigating, but we cannot be 100 percent certain that it is the same person because we do not yet have him,” the spokeswoman said.

The cases have naturally stirred up concern among some women in Berlin.

“This kind of situation is not something you can anticipate: the man comes up suddenly, attacks and then is gone,” the spokeswoman said.

“There should not be panic now… We are doing all that we can to investigate and are searching for witnesses.”

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BERLIN

EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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