Fight with machetes: Dispute escalates in Berlin’s ‘Dong Xuan Center’ 7 quotes about Russian democracy that even Putin doesn’t believe

They attacked each other with machetes, knives and wooden slats: at the infamous Asian wholesale market “Dong Xuan Center” in East Berlin, three men were seriously injured in an altercation. The 35, 36 and 37-year-olds had to undergo emergency surgery, the police announced on Saturday. After that their lives were out of danger. Another man (36) suffered “numerous cuts” and also had to be treated in hospital. Initially, the police spoke of a total of five injuries. The police have identified a 36-year-old suspect. The police are looking for other perpetrators.

According to the information, a group of several people approached another group in the premises of the Vietnamese wholesale market. The two groups got into a fight and attacked each other. After the confrontation, several people fled. The police had no information about the reason for the argument, a police spokesperson said around noon.

The head of the police union, Stephan Weh, responded to the incident:

Last year, a 28-year-old man was stabbed and seriously injured there. According to federal investigations, Berlin is already considered a ‘hub’ for Vietnamese human traffickers in Western Europe – with the ‘Dong Xuan Center’ being crucial.

According to information, people who are smuggled there are required to pay the supposed costs of their smuggling – which often amounts to several thousand euros. They work illegally in nail and massage salons, in restaurants in the meat or slaughter industry, but also in the textile and cleaning industry. There is also a suspicion of forced prostitution. The police have already raided there in the past.

The “Dong Xuan Center” with approximately 350 shops consists of several large halls with dozens of shops each, which are mainly run and visited by Vietnamese. In addition to services, clothing, toys and electronic items are sold. (saw/sda/dpa)