Dortmund kebab shop sees police response to 1-euro special

Customers in Dortmund, western Germany, faced a chaotic entry into a local doner kebab shop on Sunday. The owner had advertised a one-time introductory price of one euro for a portion that typically costs between 7.50 and 9 euros. This steep discount drew a large crowd to the premises, altering the usual dining experience for patrons seeking a quick meal.

The owner estimated that 1,000 people arrived for the opening. Police officials placed the count at approximately 300 individuals. Private security guards were hired to manage the flow of customers. They were quickly overwhelmed by the volume of people. The owner then contacted police when the situation became unmanageable. The average price of a doner in Germany has risen from 3.50 to 4 euros until about 2020. The current price range reflects higher energy and food costs.

Officers arrived to find the crowd growing agitated. A police spokesperson reported that staff were hit by bottles, stones, fireworks, an electric scooter, and a chair. Reinforcements were dispatched to the scene. Approximately 100 officers were deployed on the ground. A helicopter was also present. Tim Frommeyer, the head of Dortmund’s police, issued a statement regarding the conduct of the participants. He stated, “Anyone who uses violence, in this case once again against police officers, is not an adventure-seeking youth or a troublemaker, but a criminal.” Frommeyer described the incident as part of a recent pattern of behavior seen at rallies and demonstrations.

Several individuals were taken into custody during the event. One arrestee was found carrying a blank-firing pistol. Charges for breaching the peace, property damage, and insult have been filed against a number of participants. Police did not specify if the shop owner would face prosecution for the incident. The owner announced that he would donate the remaining inventory of kebabs to a homeless charity in the city.

The doner kebab has a long history in Germany. Turkish guest workers in West Berlin adapted the dish into a flatbread snack more than 50 years ago. The item is served more than 1.3 billion times annually. A dispute between Germany and Turkey arose two years ago over the naming rights for the food. Istanbul applied to the European Commission to recognize the term as a guaranteed traditional speciality. Berlin filed a veto against the application. The city argued that strict production specifications would create bureaucratic hurdles and increase costs. The International Döner Federation in Istanbul withdrew its application last autumn.