Thousands of people marched in Berlin to protest anti-covid measures in an authorized demonstration after a court battle . But the police suspended the protest for non-compliance with the distancing rules.
"The minimum distance is not respected by most (of the demonstrators) despite repeated requests" by the police, the police report, "which is why there is no other possibility than to dissolve the rally". The demonstration, which was attended by at least 18 thousand people, was authorized after a battle in court.
The demonstration started from the Brandenburg Gate, with a deployment of 3 thousand agents. The authorities had initially decided not to allow the event fearing that the expected participants would not be able to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters from each other or that they do not meet the requirements for the use of the mask.
The ban sparked outrage from organizers and their supporters who flooded social media with messages of anger, some threatening to use violence. But on the eve of the protest, the Berlin Administrative Court sided with the protesters, saying there was no indication that the organizers would "deliberately ignore" the rules for social distancing and endanger public health.
However, several groups announced a counter-demonstration again today.
A similar protest, to denounce the anti-Covid measures with about 20,000 protesters, mostly belonging to the far right, had been held on 1 August, but was stopped by the police as the demonstrators had not respected the anti -virus in effect. A protest similar to that in Berlin is also expected today in Zurich.
