Horrible incident: Homeless man dies after altercation at Alex!

Horrible incident: Homeless man dies after altercation at Alex!

A serious incident shook Berlin-Mitte on the night of June 11th to 12th, 2025, when Waldemar Matusiak, a 38-year-old homeless man from Poland, fell victim to a brutal altercation. At the Alexanderplatz S-Bahn and U-Bahn station around 11 p.m., Matusiak was pushed by an unknown man and fell to the ground. He suffered serious head injuries and died a short time later in hospital. The police and public prosecutor's office are looking for witnesses to obtain further information about the crime and the identity of the suspect. berlin.de reports on this tragic incident and the ongoing challenges that homeless people in Berlin face.

Homelessness has many faces in Berlin, and the situation at Alexanderplatz is particularly precarious. Just in March, a homeless man died on Rosenstrasse when the garbage collector emptied his sleeping area. This sad event led to a memorial ceremony that highlighted how vulnerable homeless people often are. A neighborhood walk organized by the Mitte district office also brought the challenges into light. Around 30 people took part in this event, including city councilor Ephraim Gothe (SPD) and city councilor Christopher Schriner (Greens). Gothe described the problem as “not that easy” and pointed out the challenges that Alexanderplatz brings with it. taz.de sheds light on the complex situation and the structural measures that increase the quality of stay, but also lead to displacement.

Statistics and violence against homeless people

Violence against homeless people has increased dramatically in recent years. According to a parliamentary question in the Berlin House of Representatives, a total of 506 incidents of violence against homeless people were registered in 2024, a significant increase compared to 441 cases in 2023. It often involves bodily harm, with 241 cases of intentional simple bodily harm and 166 cases of dangerous and serious bodily harm being recorded. The districts most commonly affected are Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. rbb24 also reports on the frightening forms of violence, including three murder cases and 13 rapes in 2024.

The situation is urgent and there is an urgent need for action. The Senate highlights the provision of housing as a key strategy for violence prevention, and has come across the “Housing First” approach, in which homeless people first receive a roof over their heads without having to meet any prior conditions. However, a major challenge remains: around 70% of homeless people live with mental illness, which can lead to violent reactions. A problem that was addressed by the Berlin City Mission. The deficiencies in the aid system and the challenges of being forced out by security forces contribute to the precarious situation of these people.

There are some initiatives in the city, such as the mobile shower for women at Alexanderplatz and food distribution by the Street Children Association. V., however the space available in emergency accommodation is limited. There are currently only 1,165 places in emergency accommodation in Berlin, which are almost fully booked on cold nights. From April 2025, the number of emergency overnight stays will be further reduced. The need for more low-threshold offers and shelters for homeless people could not be more urgent.

The tragic events and the increase in violence against homeless people should trigger a rethink in society and among decision-makers. Clear structures and long-term solutions are necessary to improve the lives of those affected and to protect them from further acts of violence.