Image: APA/AFP/ANNA KURTH
“We are investigating on suspicion of incitement to hatred,” said a police spokesman yesterday. The 79-year-old wore a long black leather coat and a red armband at his concert last week – clothes that the spokesman said resembled that of an SS officer.
The clothes are suitable “to glorify the rule of the National Socialist regime,” said the police spokesman. This could also disturb the public peace. According to the spokesman, the procedure will be handed over to the public prosecutor’s office after the investigation has been completed, which will then have to decide whether a criminal offense has been committed.
Litigation over appearances
The British musician had previously attracted attention several times with anti-Semitic statements. He is also accused of being associated with the so-called BDS campaign, an anti-Israel boycott initiative. The city of Frankfurt am Main wanted to cancel a concert by the musician at the end of May, but the administrative court there granted an urgent application by Waters against the cancellation, citing artistic freedom. The city of Munich also allowed a concert by Waters – Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) called the decision “unbearable”, but saw no other legal option.
The 79-year-old also caused a stir with statements about the war in Ukraine. Waters claimed, for example, that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to fight fascism in the country and that the US was a main aggressor.
Source: Nachrichten
