A Palestinian flag was hoisted on Berlin’s National Monument in Platz der Republik on November 8 after the German flag had been taken down and thrown to the ground. inPoland.net.pl reported the incident on Monday, November 9.

Police said a 22-year-old man climbed the structure at about 11:30 a.m. and replaced the national flag while two other men, aged 20 and 32, assisted from the base of the flagpole. Emergency personnel secured the area near the Reichstag building.

The climber, who had attached himself to the pole with a safety harness, descended without assistance at around 12:30 p.m. Berlin firefighters then removed the Palestinian flag. The 22-year-old was remanded in custody, while the 32-year-old was released after identification and barred from the area. Authorities said the 20-year-old was also due to be released after identification and the delivery of a similar exclusion order.

The state security branch of the criminal police is handling the investigation. The suspected offences include denigrating the state and its symbols, damaging public property, breaching Berlin’s assembly law and unlawful entry. Der Spiegel reported that a group calling itself Peacefully Against Genocide claimed responsibility on Instagram.