Police say occupation at Berlin's Humboldt University is over

One of the pro-Palestinian occupiers of the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU) is taken out of the building by police officers. Activists have occupied the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Christophe Gateau/dpa

Police say they have completed clearing parts of a building occupied by pro-Palestinian protesters at Humboldt University building in Berlin.

According to initial reports, a total of 150 activists had been holed up there, police spokeswoman Beate Ostertag said on Thursday evening.

Some of the activists left voluntarily, while others were led away by the police.

A demonstration on the edge of the formerly occupied building late Thursday was subsequently broken up.

Police announced over loudspeakers that there was no reason for the demonstrators to stay.

Pro-Palestinian activists had occupied the university building on Wednesday. The university had given them until 6 pm (1600 GMT) to leave and then started clearing the building.

One of the pro-Palestinian occupiers of the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU) is taken out of the building by police officers. Activists have occupied the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Christophe Gateau/dpa
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators stand on a street near the Institute of Social Sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University (HU). Activists have occupied the university in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel. Christophe Gateau/dpa