Berlin: German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser spoke out on Saturday in favour of tightening security measures ahead of New Year's Eve due to the additional threat posed by the Middle East crisis.

"Our operational forces have had to face blind rage time and again... The response must be tough action by the police and the judiciary," Faeser told German newspaper Tagesspiegel, promising that security agencies will be "extremely vigilant."

Security will also be increased at Berlin's four train stations, Faeser added.

The capital's emergency services will deploy an additional 500 federal police officers, the minister said.

"The reaction to Hamas terror and the war in Gaza has led to hatred and violence on our streets," Faeser said.

Earlier in the day, Berlin police banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration planned for December 31 in the city's Neukolln district, a police representative told the RBB24 broadcaster.

On Thursday, a poll conducted by the Institute for New Social Answers for the German newspaper Bild showed that 43% of German citizens feared last year's violent riots on New Year's Eve would repeat.

(UNI/ SPUTNIK)