Berlin police denounce May Day violence
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The German police union said more than 90 officers were injured during the evening "riots" that followed protests to mark International Workers' Day.
Hundreds of people were detained during Saturday's protest in Berlin
Berlin's police chief Barbara Slowik on Sunday hit out at violent attacks on police officers during May Day protests a day earlier, describing them as "unacceptable."
The rallies, to mark International Workers' Day rallies, had gone ahead without incident during the day, involving up to 30,000 people.
But by evening, tensions rose when police pulled far-left protesters out of the crowd for not adhering to pandemic hygiene regulations such as social distancing.
Heavy scuffles ensued, with protesters throwing glass bottles and stones at police and setting dustbins and wooden pallets ablaze in the streets.
DW journalist Elliot Douglas tweeted photos from the scene of one of the fires, in the suburb of Neukölln shortly before curfew
The fire brigade was brought in, and police used water cannon, to extinguish the fires.
Several officers injured, hundreds arrested
At least 93 officers were injured by the time the protests was broken up and 354 people were detained, according to the state of Berlin's Interior Ministry.
"Violence against police officers and a blind, destructive rage has nothing to do with political protest," state Interior Minister Andreas Geisel said.
Slowik admitted the "situation did degenerate but was quickly brought under control."
The German capital had deployed around 5,600 officers on Saturday to monitor the May Day protests, which have turned violent in the past.
Similar protests took place elsewhere in Germany and around the world, some of which also descended into skirmishes.
In Paris, police fired tear gas at protesters who smashed windows of bank branches, set fire to dustbins and threw projectiles at police.
mm/rc (AFP, dpa)
NEXT TIME JOIN YOUR UNION BROTHERS AND SISTERS
The German police union said more than 90 officers were injured during the evening "riots" that followed protests to mark International Workers' Day.
Hundreds of people were detained during Saturday's protest in Berlin
Berlin's police chief Barbara Slowik on Sunday hit out at violent attacks on police officers during May Day protests a day earlier, describing them as "unacceptable."
The rallies, to mark International Workers' Day rallies, had gone ahead without incident during the day, involving up to 30,000 people.
But by evening, tensions rose when police pulled far-left protesters out of the crowd for not adhering to pandemic hygiene regulations such as social distancing.
Heavy scuffles ensued, with protesters throwing glass bottles and stones at police and setting dustbins and wooden pallets ablaze in the streets.
DW journalist Elliot Douglas tweeted photos from the scene of one of the fires, in the suburb of Neukölln shortly before curfew
The fire brigade was brought in, and police used water cannon, to extinguish the fires.
Several officers injured, hundreds arrested
At least 93 officers were injured by the time the protests was broken up and 354 people were detained, according to the state of Berlin's Interior Ministry.
"Violence against police officers and a blind, destructive rage has nothing to do with political protest," state Interior Minister Andreas Geisel said.
Slowik admitted the "situation did degenerate but was quickly brought under control."
The German capital had deployed around 5,600 officers on Saturday to monitor the May Day protests, which have turned violent in the past.
Similar protests took place elsewhere in Germany and around the world, some of which also descended into skirmishes.
In Paris, police fired tear gas at protesters who smashed windows of bank branches, set fire to dustbins and threw projectiles at police.
mm/rc (AFP, dpa)
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Police officers stand in front of a fire set up by demonstrators during a May Day rally in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, May 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
BERLIN (AP) — More than 50 police officers were injured and over 250 protesters were detained after traditional May Day rallies in Berlin turned violent, the German Police Union said Sunday.
More than 20 different rallies took place in the German capital on Saturday and the vast majority of them were peaceful. However, a leftist march of 8,000 people through the city’s Neukoelln and Kreuzberg neighborhood, which has often seen clashes in past decades, turned violent. Protesters threw bottles and rocks at officers, and burned garbage containers and wooden pallets in the streets.
“We don’t have any final numbers, but regarding the known more than 50 injured colleagues and more than 250 detainments, it’s clear that we were far removed from a peaceful May 1,” Stephan Kelm, Berlin’s deputy chief of the police union, told German news agency dpa.
He condemned the throwing of bottles and rocks and the burning barricades on the streets, saying, “These are clear signs that it’s not about political expression but that the right to assemble was abused to commit severe crimes.”
There’s a nightly curfew in most parts of Germany currently because of the high number of coronavirus infections. But political protests and religious gatherings are exempt
“We don’t have any final numbers, but regarding the known more than 50 injured colleagues and more than 250 detainments, it’s clear that we were far removed from a peaceful May 1,” Stephan Kelm, Berlin’s deputy chief of the police union, told German news agency dpa.
He condemned the throwing of bottles and rocks and the burning barricades on the streets, saying, “These are clear signs that it’s not about political expression but that the right to assemble was abused to commit severe crimes.”
There’s a nightly curfew in most parts of Germany currently because of the high number of coronavirus infections. But political protests and religious gatherings are exempt
from the curfew.
 |
| Police officers detain a demonstrator during a May Day rally in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, May 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) |
Berlin police slam 'unacceptable' May Day violence
AFP Issued on: 02/05/2021
AFP Issued on: 02/05/2021
The German capital deployed around 5,600 officers on Saturday to monitor the May Day protests Tobias SCHWARZ AFP
Berlin (AFP)
Berlin police on Sunday said they had arrested some 240 people after May Day rallies descended into "unacceptable" violence that saw protesters pelt officers with stones and bottles and set fire to bins.
More than 30,000 people from across the political spectrum took part in several marches in the German capital on Saturday as part of the traditional Labour Day workers' rights demonstrations.
Most of the demonstrations passed off peacefully, police said.
But the mood darkened in the evening after police pulled far-left "black block" protesters out of the crowd for not adhering to pandemic hygiene regulations such as social distancing.
Along with thousands of others, they had been marching in the "Revolutionary May Day" demonstration to protest racism, capitalism and rising rents in the city.
Heavy scuffles ensued, with protesters throwing glass bottles and stones at police and setting dustbins and wooden pallets ablaze in the streets.
Around 20 officers were injured by the time the protest was broken up, Berlin police said.
"Violence during demonstrations is absolutely unacceptable," said Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik.
"The situation did degenerate but was quickly brought under control," she added.
The German capital had deployed around 5,600 officers on Saturday to monitor the May Day protests, which have turned violent in the past.
Similar protests took place around the world, some of which also descended into skirmishes.
© 2021 AFP
Berlin (AFP)
Berlin police on Sunday said they had arrested some 240 people after May Day rallies descended into "unacceptable" violence that saw protesters pelt officers with stones and bottles and set fire to bins.
More than 30,000 people from across the political spectrum took part in several marches in the German capital on Saturday as part of the traditional Labour Day workers' rights demonstrations.
Most of the demonstrations passed off peacefully, police said.
But the mood darkened in the evening after police pulled far-left "black block" protesters out of the crowd for not adhering to pandemic hygiene regulations such as social distancing.
Along with thousands of others, they had been marching in the "Revolutionary May Day" demonstration to protest racism, capitalism and rising rents in the city.
Heavy scuffles ensued, with protesters throwing glass bottles and stones at police and setting dustbins and wooden pallets ablaze in the streets.
Around 20 officers were injured by the time the protest was broken up, Berlin police said.
"Violence during demonstrations is absolutely unacceptable," said Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik.
"The situation did degenerate but was quickly brought under control," she added.
The German capital had deployed around 5,600 officers on Saturday to monitor the May Day protests, which have turned violent in the past.
Similar protests took place around the world, some of which also descended into skirmishes.
© 2021 AFP
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