A large group in the audience started chanting slogans against the German made Leopard II tanks being used in the attacks and massacres against Afrin as they held up banners when Gabriel started his speech. Gabriel and the protesters had a short argument.

A banner that read “Turkey bombs Germany profits” was put up on one side of the hall and another that read “Solidarity with Kurdistan” on the other, while the audience chanted “Stop selling arms to Turkey”.

The protest shocked Gabriel, who said, “No, I didn’t sell panzers to Turkey, I only did my job,” while the audience shouted, “Your signature is on the weapons exports, you made 30 million Euros just through that.”

Gabriel defended himself: “The panzers used now were not sold by our government, but that doesn’t mean we won’t object to Turkey’s operation and we are working to stop this.”

The rest of the audience supported the protest by clapping.