(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, 08 NOV - The German government announced the violence that took place yesterday in Leipzig during a protest against the restrictions for the pandemic, in which far-right militants also participated, which led to 31 arrests.
"Nothing can justify what we saw in Leipzig," said Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht.
"The outrage to science, the hate speech of the far right that we have seen is frightening", he added, "strongly condemning the attacks on the police and the press."
More than 20,000 people, most of them maskless, gathered yesterday in central Leipzig to show their anger at the restrictions linked to the Covid-19 epidemic.
After repeatedly ordering them to wear the mask and to respect a distance of one and a half meters between people, the police ended up ordering the dissolution of the rally.
But in a tense atmosphere, many refused to comply with the injunction and started a parade on one of Leipzig's main boulevards.
According to local police, law enforcement and journalists were attacked with throws of objects.
The violence continued throughout the evening.
The Saxon police, which had received reinforcements from several other regions, made 31 arrests.
According to local media, neo-Nazi sympathizers were among the protesters, along with other local far-right figures, as the crowd yelled "Merkel must go!"
and "peace, freedom, no dictatorship".
(ANSA-AFP).