Germany: Antifa occupy Berlin building in support of refugees

A group of Antifa activists occupied a vacant building on the banks of Berlin's River Spree, Thursday, from where they hung banners showing their solidarity with refugees in Germany. Protesters also gathered on the opposite bank of the river from where they demonstrated in support of the occupiers. Activists flew an Antifa flag from atop the building, around which police have formed a cordon. Authorities estimate that up to 800,000 people could apply for asylum in Germany by the end of 2015, and the country has seen thousands of refugees arrive at its main train stations in recent days . Germany has emerged as the priority destination for many Syrian refugees travelling to the EU after Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that the country would suspend the Dublin regulation, essentially granting Syrian asylum seekers special status. The regulation states that refugees and migrants can only claim asylum in the country they first enter in the EU, potentially facing deportation should they try to register in another member state. However, Germany is now permitting officers to process applications of asylum seekers even if they travelled through other EU countries first.