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German embassy stormed

September 14, 2012

Sudan's police force used tear gas on Friday in a bid to stop more than 5,000 demonstrators from storming the German and British embassies, but some protesters still made it through the gates of the German embassy.

https://p.dw.com/p/169Jr
A Sudanese demonstrator shouts slogans after protesters torched the German embassy in Khartoum during a demonstration against a low-budget film mocking Islam on September 14, 2012. Around 5,000 protesters in the Sudanese capital angry over the amateur anti-Islam film stormed the embassies of Britain and Germany, which was torched and badly damaged. (Photo: ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/GettyImages)
Image: AFP/Getty Images

Protesters threw stones at the two neighboring embassies in Khartoum before they stormed the main gates of the German embassy. They attacked its facade and tore down the flag, replacing it with a black Islamic one before setting fire to the building, one witness said.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle confirmed the attack on Friday but said that the embassy's staff is safe.

"I sharply condemn the attacks on the German embassy in Khartoum," Westerwelle said in a press conference in Berlin. "I demand from the Sudanese authorities that the safety of the German embassy will be guaranteed immediately."

Neue Angriffe auf US-Konsulate # protestn15e # 14.09.2012 16 Uhr # Journal (englisch)

Westerwelle condemned what he called the "anti-Islam hate video" that has caused an uproar in many Islamic countries leading to similar attacks at American embassies and consulates that started earlier this week.

The privately made American film, called "Innocence of Muslims," portrays the prophet Muhammad as a womanizer, homosexual and child abuser. The pictorial portrayal of Muhammad is forbidden in Islamic dogma.

"I understand the outrage of the Islamic world because of this anti-Islam hate video," Westerwelle said. "This video is insufferable and hurts the feelings of millions of believers. I emphatically condemn this video, but it is no excuse for this violence. This violence must end."

mz/mkg (Reuters, dpa, AFP)