Terrified pupils suffer breathing problems and burning eyes as chemical weapon sprayed in hallway – sparking major emergency response
Dozens of children were rushed to hospital this morning after a shocking tear gas attack at a primary school in Berlin left pupils struggling to breathe and crying in agony.
At least 37 students at the Miriam Makeba Elementary School suffered respiratory problems and severe eye irritation after the toxic chemical was deliberately sprayed in a hallway just after 9am local time.
The attack sparked a “mass casualty incident” response from Berlin’s emergency services, with scores of ambulances racing to the school on Zinzendorfstrasse as panicked parents gathered outside the building.
CHILDREN GASPING FOR AIR
Terrified children as young as six were seen gasping for breath and clutching their burning eyes as teachers frantically evacuated the building while emergency crews descended on the scene.
The local fire department confirmed they were alerted at exactly 9:04am, with the first responders arriving to find dozens of distressed pupils suffering from the effects of the chemical weapon.
A total of 37 children were affected,” a fire department spokesperson told German media. One child had to be transported to a hospital for further medical care.
Berlin police said “at least 10” children were complaining of severe eye and respiratory irritations, though German media reports suggest the true number of casualties could be significantly higher.
HALLWAY HORROR
The tear gas was reportedly sprayed directly into a main hallway of the school building during the morning rush, maximizing the number of potential victims.
Students caught in the chemical cloud immediately began experiencing classic tear gas symptoms – burning eyes, difficulty breathing, coughing fits and skin irritation.
Students affected complained of shortness of breath and eye irritation,” local media reported, with some children reportedly collapsing as they tried to escape the toxic fumes.
SCHOOL EVACUATED
The entire school was immediately evacuated and shut down as hazmat teams moved in to secure the building and decontaminate the affected areas.
Emergency medical teams set up triage stations outside the school to treat the injured children, with the most seriously affected being rushed to nearby hospitals for advanced care.
Distressing scenes unfolded as crying children were led from the building, many still suffering from the effects of the chemical attack hours later.
PARENTS’ PANIC
Scores of concerned parents rushed to the school after hearing news of the attack, with many breaking down in tears as they waited desperately for information about their children.
The normally quiet residential street was transformed into a scene of chaos, with emergency vehicles blocking roads and police establishing a security perimeter around the school.
Parents were initially prevented from entering the school grounds, leading to angry confrontations with police as desperate mothers and fathers demanded to see their children.
MULTICULTURAL TARGET
The Miriam Makeba Elementary School, named after the legendary South African singer and civil rights activist, is known for its highly diverse student body.
Only one in five of the school’s 470 pupils speak German as their first language, with families originating from Turkey, Lebanon and numerous other countries.
The school also houses four “welcome classes” for around 50 refugee children who have recently arrived in Germany – raising fears the attack could have been motivated by xenophobia or hate.
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED
Berlin police have launched a major investigation into the attack, with detectives treating it as a deliberate assault on children.
No arrests have yet been made, but investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses to identify the perpetrator.
The use of tear gas – typically a police crowd control weapon – has raised serious questions about how the attacker obtained the chemical agent.
SCHOOL’S PROUD HISTORY
The attack represents a devastating blow to a school that has prided itself on promoting integration and multiculturalism in one of Berlin’s most diverse neighborhoods.
Headmistress Karin Nithammer-Kachel has previously spoken about the challenges and rewards of running such a multicultural institution, where music and the arts play a central role in bringing children together.
The school has been particularly successful in helping immigrant children integrate, with 20-30% of pupils going on to attend Germany’s prestigious Gymnasium secondary schools despite language barriers.
GERMANY ON EDGE
The attack comes at a time of heightened tensions in Germany over immigration and integration, with far-right groups increasingly targeting institutions seen as symbols of multiculturalism.
Just last week, Austria was rocked by a mass shooting at a school in Graz that left 10 people dead, raising fears about copycat attacks across German-speaking Europe.
Security experts warned that schools – particularly those with high immigrant populations – could become “soft targets” for extremists looking to spread fear and division.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Doctors treating the injured children warned that exposure to tear gas can have serious long-term effects, particularly on young respiratory systems.
“Children are especially vulnerable to chemical agents like tear gas,” explained Dr. Marcus Weber, a pediatric specialist. “Their smaller airways and developing lungs make them much more susceptible to serious complications.”
Parents were advised to monitor their children for ongoing symptoms including persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, or vision problems that could indicate more serious damage.
CALLS FOR ACTION
The attack has sparked immediate calls for increased security at German schools, with education unions demanding metal detectors and security guards at all primary schools.
Our children should be safe in their classrooms, not victims of chemical weapons attacks,” declared Maria Steinberg from the German Teachers’ Union. “This is a wake-up call that cannot be ignored.”
Opposition politicians called for an emergency debate on school security, with some demanding that tear gas and other chemical agents be classified as prohibited weapons.
As investigations continue and the community reels from this morning’s horrific events, one thing is clear: the innocence of childhood has once again been shattered by an act of senseless violence.
The Miriam Makeba Elementary School – a beacon of hope for integration and multiculturalism – now stands as a crime scene, its hallways still reeking of the chemical weapon used to attack its most vulnerable inhabitants.
Kleeblatt187. “Zinzendorfstraße in Chemnitz‑Altendorf.” Photo taken 23 April 2022 at 19:35:50, looking south along Zinzendorfstraße at Wolkenburger Straße, Chemnitz‑Altendorf, Germany. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution‑ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).
