Rheinmetall demo in Cologne: Police admit failures and violence!

Rheinmetall demo in Cologne: Police admit failures and violence!

On August 30, 2025, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Cologne for an anti-war demonstration under the slogan “Disarm Rheinmetall”. The initiative wanted to send a clear signal against the federal government's rearmament plans. But the peaceful protests were overshadowed by violence and a massive police operation, which is now classified as problematic in a report by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Interior. Deutschlandfunk reports that the interior committee of the state parliament failed to provide the protesters with adequate water and toilets.

Surrounded and in distress: The demonstration escalated when the police took action against the approximately 500 protesters. Witnesses reported punches, kicks and the use of pepper spray by the emergency services, which, according to the police, were justified as “necessary for the situation”. There were also attacks on the part of the police, which further inflamed the situation. This approach resulted in more than 20 injuries, both among demonstrators and emergency services. WDR highlights that the police even filed a criminal complaint against themselves in order to clarify allegations of bodily harm in office.

Police failures

A central component of the report is the critical examination of the preparation and implementation of the police operation. Critical errors were discovered in the care of the encircled demonstrators. Water and portable toilets were only provided from 9:42 p.m., annoying for the participants who had already had to endure the heat for several hours. Access to information and assistance for minors and people in need also came too late. In the rush, their personal details were not given priority, adding to allegations that the police did not handle the situation appropriately.

The incident not only made waves in the local media, but also sparked discussions at the political level. Councilwoman Lisa Schubert from the “Die Linke” party reported brutal attacks by police officers, which were documented in a video. The political debate is discussing whether the police have taken too much power into their hands in this situation and how future protests can be carried out under humane conditions.

Consequences and review

The use of violence has not only led to serious reflection within the police, but also to an increased debate about the right to assembly in Germany. The Home Office has acknowledged inadequate handling of the situation and stressed the need to review procedures. The demonstration by the “Disarm Rheinmetall” alliance was ultimately canceled due to the attacks on the officials and various violations of the right to assembly, as also noted in the report.

The events make it clear that some improvements are necessary in such protests in order to protect the rights of the demonstrators and at the same time ensure the safety of the emergency services. The question remains how those responsible will react to this and whether these events serve as a lesson for future protests.