Seven days ago, the photo was posted on Instagram. It shows a young man in a black sedan, the driver's door is open, his clothes are reflected by the flashlight of the camera. "Abotreffen", he writes. "21.3., Berlin at Alexanderplatz at 17 clock! Who is at the start?"
The young man comes from Stuttgart and is called Bekir. He is a creator, his account "Thatsbekir" has more than 260,000 subscribers, more than 26,000 users follow him on Instagram. After his call, more than 400 youth and young men gathered on Alexanderplatz in Berlin on Thursday afternoon. But the meeting for subscribers escalated - in a mass brawl. Why?
Apparently a dispute between two YouTubers
Not only Bekir's fans appeared on the square in Berlin-Mitte. The Berlin creator "Bahar al amood", which is followed by almost 14,000 people on the platform, also joined. Whether the Berlin had also called his followers to come to Alexanderplatz, is still being determined, the police said.
The background of their clash is apparently a dispute that began on the net: The Berliner believed that Bekir had previously insulted him in an Instagram livestream, which was also published on YouTube.
What exactly happened at Alexanderplatz, is so far unclear.
There are explanations in social networks that are difficult to verify. The speech is of a demanded apology and a slap in the face, which is said to have led to the brawl of several Umherstehender. The police were also unable to confirm this suspected crime. There is the suspicion of an attack, said a police spokesman. The exact backgrounds would have to be determined.
About 50 people attacked with punching, kicking and pepper spray. The police arrived. Because she knew in advance of the event, she was with dozens of forces on the ground. Nevertheless, she requested reinforcement. In the end, about a hundred forces tried to resolve the dispute. "The officials also used irritant gas," said a police spokesman.
Two policemen were injured during the operation. The beatings should also have tried to pull an official into the crowd. One of the participants was arrested as a result.
The police called people by loudspeaker to leave the square, the dispute broke up, several small groups dispersed. A group of 20 people ran onto the platform of subway line 8. There they had jumped into the track bed and pelted themselves with paving stones, police said. The officers arrested seven people at the subway station.
Nine people in custody
A total of nine people were detained, they are now released. At 9.30 pm the operation was finished according to the police. She initiated, inter alia, because of dangerous assault and serious breach of the peace 13 investigations. In addition, according to the police, the meeting was not registered with the city. That too could be expensive for the creators.
Alexanderplatz is one of the seven crime hotspots in Berlin, where the police are particularly present. The Union of Police (GdP) warned after the brawl before risky actions to increase its own profile.
The union's leader, Norbert Cioma, said: "We see in the rappers and increasingly also other influencers that they are sometimes very negligent with their influence and it seems to be fashion to open powder kegs, more followers, subscribers and clicks to generate."
Exchange for the glory
In fact, the two YouTubers have apparently been around for quite some time. In any case, "Thatsbekir" has regularly released "Disstracks" on his YouTube channel: videos in which he talks about other creators. Also with "Bahar al amood" he had repeatedly delivered a digital exchange of blows, including in livestreams on Instagram. The two of them accused each other to use for clicks and notoriety. It was about a published telephone number or personal insults. The whole thing was partly playful.
The game of attention has now become serious. In social networks, the two are criticized by many users for their behavior. Among other things, they are accused of being bad role models. Others, however, express their understanding of defending themselves when offended.
After the incident at Alexanderplatz, the two chief executives also spoke up. He is sorry for the police, wrote YouTuber "Bahar al amood". "We tried to sort it out with talk, but he did not talk to him." Bekir wrote that he was feeling sick. "I hope I can talk tomorrow, I need a break."