Shocking footage captured the moment hundreds of German protesters tried to storm into the historic Reichstag building. Police barricades were overwhelmed by the furious protesters, who were demonstrating against the German government's COVID-19 protection measures. A violent confrontation with police at the German parliament broke out after a daylong rally, which drew nearly 40,000 protesters to the Berlin streets.
Similar protests also erupted across European capitals in London, Paris and Zurich, although these rallies were smaller in size.
Dramatic footage from the rally in Berlin showed hundreds of protesters run past police and up the stairs of the historic Reichstag building.
However, the police intercepted the protesters before they were able to enter the actual parliament.
Berlin police later said stones and bottles were thrown by the protesters during the confrontation.
Hundreds of German protesters tried to storm into the historic Reichstag building (Image: GETTY)
Some of those in social media footage can be seen waving the flag of the German Reich of 1871-1918 and other symbols of the far-right.
Germany’s top security official condemned the incident, as the interior minister, Horst Seehofer said: "The Reichstag building is the workplace of our parliament and therefore the symbolic centre of our liberal democracy.
“It’s unbearable that vandals and extremists should misuse it.”
Police in the German capital broke up the mass protest several hours after it started, after demonstrators failed to comply with social distancing guidlines.
Berlin police later confirmed they had detained around 300 people during the rally.
City authorities had initially tried to stop the march from going ahead, citing fears that safety measures would be ignored.
The ban sparked outrage from organisers who vowed to protest anyway, with some even calling for violence.
THOUSANDS of anti-lockdown activists have gathered in London's Trafalgar Square this afternoon, to demand an end to coronavirus restrictions.
Pictures of the London landmark this afternoon show hundreds of protestors pack into the square, with many holding banners against social distancing rules, the compulsory wearing of masks and a coronavirus vaccine. The "Unite for Freedom" rally started at noon and calls for an "end to Government lies’" and the restoration of all freedoms.
Protestors view the lockdown measures, introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19, as a violation of people’s rights and freedoms.
Pictures of the large crowds show people holding signs that read “coronavirus is a hoax”, “no to mandatory vaccines” and “masks are muzzles”.
One person has claimed it is the largest anti-lockdown protest to date.
They wrote on Twitter: “Trafalgar Square completely full at the UK's largest anti-lockdown anti-mask protest.”
The large numbers of protestors have filled the area beneath the National Portrait Gallery.
Very few of those in attendance appear to be wearing face coverings.
A flyer for the event said the protestors would be joined by "top professional doctors and nurses speaking out".
Jeremy Corbyn’s brother, Piers, is also due to make an appearance at the event.
The mass protest against pandemic restrictions had been allowed to go ahead after a bitter legal battle.
But it was halted at about 9am by a police injunction.
The police said: “The minimum distancing is not being respected by most (of the demonstrators) despite repeated requests.
“There is no other option than to break up the gathering.”
Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik had warned that if the demonstrators did not adhere to virus safety rules, police would clear the area “very quickly”.
She said: “We will not be able or willing to watch tens of thousands assemble and create infection risks.”
Earlier this week the city banned the protest but a German regional court overnight gave the final go-ahead by overruling the earlier decision.
No comments:
Post a Comment