Various rallies have been announced for this Monday in connection with the visit of Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. (File photo)
© dpa
The visit of Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Berlin could put road users' patience to the test on Monday.
The police are preparing for a large-scale operation involving road closures, extensive detours and strict bans on gatherings.
According to the police, several rallies - some of them large - in support of and against the Syrian head of state have been registered, with a total of several thousand participants. In the morning, opponents of the government will gather at the Großer Stern and later at the Brandenburg Gate. Supporters of Al-Sharaa will meet at Berlin Central Station, where 3,000 people are expected.
As was the case on Sunday, gatherings are prohibited at several locations in the capital: According to the police, rallies are banned between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in front of Bellevue Palace, the Federal Chancellery and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Potsdamer Platz, where al-Sharaa is staying.
The 43-year-old will meet with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and others on Monday. The police recommend avoiding the affected streets entirely. Residents or authorized individuals who wish to enter the cordoned-off areas must carry identification.
The head of the police union in the state, Stephan Weh, explained that preparations for the state visit were underway, "even though we still have to squeeze in a half-marathon and other activities on a typical Berlin weekend." Al-Scharaa is considered a high-risk individual. "In addition to the visit itself, the Berlin police must take many related factors into account, such as expected gatherings - and, of course, they are leaving nothing to chance."