Police injured during confrontation at anti-abortion prayer event in Germany

On August 15, 2026, a peaceful anti-abortion prayer gathering in Göttingen, Germany, concluded with a violent confrontation between police and counter-protesters. Approximately 20 young volunteers from the “SOS Life” campaign and the “Sacred Heart Apostolate” were holding a public prayer event when they were confronted by a group of about 200 counter-protesters.

According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe), the counter-protesters attempted to break through a police line to reach the Christian participants. Law enforcement officers intervened to secure the area and escort the volunteers to safety. During the intervention, 12 police officers sustained injuries from irritant spray, requiring medical attention. OIDAC Europe and the Christian Forum characterized the counter-protesters as left-wing extremists, noting that the participants were left shaken by the hostility encountered during the event.