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Hung with masks: demonstrator in Leipzig
Photo:
Sebastian Kahnert / dpa
After a legal dispute, a "lateral thinking" demonstration against the Corona measures has started in downtown Leipzig.
Very few of the several thousand participants wore a mask or were able to keep the minimum distance of one and a half meters.
The space between the Gewandhaus and the Leipzig Opera was already packed at noon.
"The control is almost impossible for us," said the spokesman for the Leipzig Police Department, Olaf Hoppe.
The Upper Administrative Court of Bautzen (OVG) had previously decided that a rally with 16,000 people could take place on Augustusplatz.
The OVG overturned the decision of the administrative court, which had initially confirmed the city's requirements on Friday evening.
The city wanted to move the rally to the parking lot of the New Fair - about nine kilometers from the center.
Police expect "very intensive use"
"It is difficult to explain that currently only two houses are allowed to meet, but 16,000 people are allowed to demonstrate in one place," said Leipzig city spokesman Matthias Hasberg.
If you keep the prescribed distances of 1.50 meters, you get a maximum of 5000 people for Augustusplatz.
According to the city, the Higher Administrative Court wants to submit a reason for the decision in the coming days.
According to their own statements, the police are preparing for a "very intensive operation because a certain potential for radicalization is recognizable on all sides".
The Leipzig police are supported by the Saxon riot police, emergency services from eight federal states as well as the federal police and the state criminal investigation office.
The police are facing an "extremely big challenge," said police spokesman Hoppe.
"We'll have to decide on the spot how to handle it."
He emphasized that the right of assembly was placed above the Corona Protection Ordinance.
On Friday evening, around 200 people had already gathered on the market square in Leipzig.
According to the police, they registered a spontaneous demonstration at which they protested against the state's corona measures.
Many participants did not wear masks and did not keep the minimum distance.
A police spokesman said video recordings were made and a complaint was being made against the leader of the meeting.
According to the police, around 100 people gathered for a counter-protest within earshot.
The emergency services were already in the city with a large contingent on Friday evening.
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