Campaigners have hit out at the developer who removed sections of the wall “in a sneaky manner” before dawn.
Parts of the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall have been torn down in a surprise move by developers to make way for a luxury building project.
Work crews backed by about 250 police removed four sections – each 1.2m wide – of the 1.3km long East Side Gallery before dawn.
By mid-morning the gap was covered by a wooden fence and protected by scores of police. It will make way for an access route to planned high-rise apartments along the nearby Spree River.
It follows several protests including one attended by former Baywatch and Knight Rider star David Hasselhoff. Critics are angered that developers are sacrificing history for profit.
Construction workers removed a first piece of the wall earlier this month as part of a plan to make a road to a new luxury apartment complex.
I – Word Understanding
Sneaky manner – secret and dishonest way
Torn down – to destroy
Scores of police – a large number of police
II – Have your say
1.The Berlin Wall (built in 1961) was one of the symbols of the Cold War.
Do you have knowledge about the COLD WAR and the BERLIN WALL? Let’s compare notes.
2.”Sacrificing history for profit”
What is the impact?
3.David Hasselhoff, a famous Hollywood TV actor, is actively campaigning against this demolition.
What do you think of celebrities getting involved in politics and other social issues?
