On Friday, Berlin police announced that they have launched an investigation against Roger Waters, the co-founder of Pink Floyd, over suspicion of incitement due to the attire he wore during his performance in the German capital last week.
This information was reported by the AP agency.
Photos in social media show Waters shooting with a simulated machine gun during his performance. The performer is dressed in a long black coat with a red armband.
German authorities have opened an investigation after Roger Waters, a founder of Pink Floyd & a Putinophile, who wore a long Nazi style black coat with a red armband, pretending to fire a fake gun during a concert in the German capital https://t.co/uxbydJqIpV pic.twitter.com/pIzGKWeQtl
— Sergiy Kyslytsya 🇺🇦 (@SergiyKyslytsya) May 26, 2023
Police confirmed that they have initiated an investigation in connection with suspicions that the context of the costume might constitute glorification, justification, or approval of Nazi rule, and therefore, disturbance of public peace.
Following the completion of the police investigation, the case will be handed over to the Berlin prosecutor’s office, which will decide whether to press charges against Waters.
The artist has repeatedly been caught up in scandals related to antisemitism and defending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Waters previously aroused anger with his support of the BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) movement, which calls for a boycott and sanctions against Israel. He rejects accusations of anti-Semitism.
Authorities in Frankfurt tried to prevent a concert scheduled for May 28, but Waters successfully challenged this decision in local court. The Munich city council stated that they explored the possibility of banning the concert, but concluded that legally breaking the contract with the organizer was impossible.
Waters’ performance on Sunday was accompanied by a protest action, which was attended by the leader of the local Jewish community.
Last year, the Polish city of Krakow cancelled Waters’ concerts due to his supportive stance towards Russia in the war against Ukraine.
