Police officers attacked in Berlin as school leavers celebrate

Open-air parties attended by hundreds of Berlin school leavers escalated with attacks on police officers, authorities said on Saturday.

Since Monday, the German capital has seen daily celebrations in some parks, leaving behind large piles of rubbish and broken glass.

In the final week of school before exams, known in Germany as "Abitur," pupils at many schools organize themed weeks with different costumes each day.

Up to 1,000 young people gathered near the Planetarium in the trendy neighbourhood of Prenzlauer Berg on Friday, with police reporting loud music and littering with empty bottles.

After police spoke to the revellers, bottles were thrown and firecrackers set off, leading officers to clear the area.

Five youngsters were held on suspicion of breach of the peace and assault. In total, 15 cases of grievous bodily harm, damage to property and pickpocketing were investigated.

In the western Schöneberg district, police officers were attacked after around 600 youths gathered at the Rathaus Schöneberg underground station at around 9 pm (2000 GMT).

The B.Z. newspaper reported that the gatherings had been advertised online as an “flash mob.”