On Saturday (November 7th) meetings against the corona measures took place in Leipzig.
After the police was disbanded, there were repeated clashes.
On Saturday there was a big demo of the initiative
"lateral thinking"
against the corona measures in
Leipzig
.
20,000 people appeared.
The
police in Saxony
received support from the federal police and the
riot
police from eight other federal states.
After the
dissolution of the demonstration
, there were numerous clashes with the police
(update from November 7th, 8:12 p.m.)
Update from November 9th, 3:00 p.m.:
After the
large demonstration in Leipzig
on Sunday, more and more federal politicians speak out.
Now
CDU *
General Secretary
Paul Ziemiak
criticizes
SPD *
boss Saskia Esken
: He
sharply
rejected her criticism of the
police operation
in the “lateral thinking” demo of mask refusers as irrelevant.
"She has no idea about the police situation on site," Ziemiak criticized on Monday.
“You should only express yourself when you know all the facts and not just stumble against the police just because you think you
will get
some retweets on
.” Esken was already heavily criticized after an earlier statement to the police.
He wanted Esken and the SPD to have as much approval as the Saxon police, added Ziemiak.
“Then the SPD would
not have to worry
about the next
federal election campaign
at all.” Esken tweeted on Saturday: “Overall, the police forces were completely overwhelmed with the situation in # le0711 today.
Mass violations of rules such as the mask requirement were hardly punished.
Representatives of the press saw themselves at the mercy of right-wing extremist attacks. ”Esken continued:“ Overall, this day is a
declaration
of
bankruptcy by
the Saxon interior minister and the federal interior minister. ”
Horst Seehofer
(CSU *)
had already made a statement about the demo on Sunday evening
(see update from November 9th, 6.59 a.m.).
Overall, the police forces were completely overwhelmed with the situation in # le0711 today.
Mass violations of rules such as the mask requirement were hardly punished.
Representatives of the press found themselves defenseless against the attacks by right-wing extremists.
https://t.co/BqaX0RHG0Q
- Saskia Esken (@EskenSaskia) November 7, 2020
Ziemiak upheld the right in Germany to take to the streets for his opinion.
However, it is irresponsible and in solidarity with the rest of the population
to forego
distance
and
masks
.
He condemned the right-wing extremist excesses in the context in the strongest possible terms.
Not every demonstrator can be assigned to this camp across the board.
But every demonstrator has to deal with who he takes on the street and whom he offers such a stage.
Also
CSU chief Markus Söder
said, on Monday morning to the rally.
He also wrote on Twitter: “The Basic Law guarantees the right to demonstrate.
But it does not include the overriding of health protection.
It is important that corona measures are observed everywhere.
Even with demonstrations!
There are no special rights for lateral thinkers. "
Corona demo in Leipzig: Interior Minister Horst Seehofer protects the police
Update from November 9th, 6.59 a.m.:
Federal Interior Minister
Horst Seehofer (CSU)
defended
the police against criticism
after the large demonstration against the corona measures on Saturday in
Leipzig
.
"We have to stop questioning the police's tactics in retrospect without knowledge of details and without a complete picture via remote diagnosis," emphasized Seehofer in a statement distributed by his ministry on Sunday evening.
The police have his "full backing".
The Bautzen Higher Administrative Court had allowed the lateral thinking initiative to be demonstrated in
downtown Leipzig
at short notice.
After the demo with around 20,000 participants, there was criticism of the court and the police because there had been numerous violations of the Corona requirements.
In addition, there were violent confrontations after the police broke up the demonstration prematurely because of the violations of the Corona rules.
According to the
Mayor
of Leipzig
, Burkhard Jung (SPD), the
spectrum of demonstrators ranged
“from well-meaning homeopaths to neo-Nazis”.
According to the police, the vast majority of them did not comply with the mask requirement.
A group of protesters broke a police chain.
Corona demo in Leipzig: Seehofer calls for "responsible decisions"
Seehofer
now stated that all those involved - the assembly authorities, the police and the courts - had to make “responsible decisions” in the light of the current infection situation.
“The right of assembly must be guaranteed, especially in times of crisis,” emphasized the minister.
But the rules of the assembly authorities must "be observed and enforced".
The FDP called on the Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK) to deal with the events in Leipzig at its next meeting.
The IMK should develop a concept as to how it could be ensured in the future "that such demonstrations are accompanied by a sufficient number of officials," said the vice-chairman of the FDP parliamentary group, Stephan Thomae, of the Düsseldorf "Rheinische Post" (Monday edition).
After all, the escalation in Leipzig was not the first in the past weeks and months.
Ministers foaming after the escalated Corona demo: "Anyone who has allowed this in Leipzig should be ashamed"
Update from November 8th, 5:01 pm:
After
riots
during the
“lateral thinking” protest
in
Leipzig
,
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas
sharply criticized the behavior of the demonstrators.
"The Basic Law guarantees the right to demonstrate," wrote the SPD politician on
on Sunday
.
"But anyone who, like in Leipzig, endangers fellow human beings, attacks police officers and journalists, spreads right-wing extremist agitation or sets fire to barricades during counter-demonstrations, leaves the scope of this fundamental right."
The Basic Law guarantees the right to demonstrate.
But anyone who, as in Leipzig, endangers fellow human beings, attacks police officers and journalists, spreads right-wing extremist agitation or sets fire to barricades during counter-demonstrations, leaves the scope of this fundamental right.
# le0711
- Heiko Maas 🇪🇺 (@HeikoMaas) November 8, 2020
Various politicians had strongly condemned the riots and called for the police operation to be dealt with.
Even
Europe Minister Michael Roth
(SPD) expressed his disgust.
"Anyone who allowed this in #Leipzig should be ashamed and self-contained." This demonstration had little to do with freedom but a lot to do with dangerous irresponsibility, he wrote on Twitter.
"What is the matter with these people who mess with right-wing extremists and rowdies ?!"
Update from November 8, 10:34 a.m.:
After the
riot night
in
Leipzig
, has
the Leipzig
police chief Torsten Schultze
defended the police action.
In a video statement, he explained that the mission had three goals:
Guaranteeing a peaceful course
The prevention of possible acts of violence
The enforcement of infection protection
The first two goals were largely achieved, the third goal not.
According to the authorities, at least
20,000 people demonstrated in Leipzig
on Saturday
.
According to the police, 90 percent
did not wear a mask
.
Although the
meeting
was declared dissolved shortly before 4 p.m. due to violations of the requirements, the crowds simply stopped in the city center and demanded a train around the symbolic
Leipziger Ring
.
However, according to the
Corona Protection Ordinance,
elevators are
currently not permitted.
Nevertheless, the
"lateral thinkers"
forced a
tour of the ring.
There was a lot of pressure at the police barrier, said Schultze.
Using violence was "not indicated".
"You don't fight a pandemic with police means, but only with the common sense of the people," said the police chief.
Huge corona demo today in Leipzig: Police dissolve the event - massive riots into the night
Update from November 7th, 11:08 pm:
In the Leipzig district of Connewitz, the
riots lasted into the night
.
The police see themselves confronted with
"massive fires"
of barricades that were laid by demonstrators, said a spokeswoman for the Leipzig police on Saturday evening.
The police used
water cannons
, but not against the demonstrators, but to put out the fires.
The fire brigade had to withdraw because the situation had become too dangerous for them.
The spokeswoman could not specify how many demonstrators were there.
The police had previously announced that three officers
had been injured
by
stone throwing
that evening
.
Emergency vehicles
are also said to have
been damaged.
The stones and pyrotechnics were
thrown
from the ranks of a
spontaneous demonstration
that had formed in connection with the arrest of a suspected left-wing extremist.
Update from November 7th, 8:12 pm:
After the
dissolution of the “lateral thinking” demonstration in
the afternoon, there were probably several riots in
Leipzig
.
Demonstrators on Augustusplatz are said to
have detonated
firecrackers
and
rockets
.
At the main station,
“lateral thinkers”
are said to have
encountered
counter-demonstrators
.
There were several minor brawls.
However, the emergency services were able to resolve the conflict quickly.
The
Saxony police
wrote on Twitter that officials were also attacked by the demonstrators.
But one will act consistently against the
criminals
, it continues.
There were numerous attacks on emergency services at the barriers.
A barrier was opened in the area of the main train station in #Leipzig.
Participants in the former assembly run an elevator that has been classified as prohibited by the assembly authorities.
# le0711
- Police Saxony (@PolizeiSachsen) November 7, 2020
The German Union of Journalists (DJU) says that
at least
32 journalists were
physically attacked
during the
“lateral thinking” demonstration
.
According
to the state manager of the DJU Berlin-Brandenburg, Jörg Reichel, the
attacks were essentially
initiated
by participants in the
“#Coronaleugner demo”
.
"Our fears that the
demonstrations could
again lead to hostility and threats of violence against journalists have unfortunately come true," said Tina Groll, chairwoman of the DJU.
The
police were
unable to make any statements about the attacks.
However, it cannot be ruled out that there were also attacks on representatives of the
press
in the numerous attacks
, said a police spokesman.
Update from November 7th, 6:16 p.m
.: Police work is visible, police chief inspector Olaf Hoppe on Twitter.
He continues to hope for a peaceful evening:
The police spokesman of the Police Directorate #Leipzig, Police Chief Inspector Olaf Hoppe, in a short statement on the incident so far.
# le0711 pic.twitter.com/UstNFfrXs3
- Police Saxony (@PolizeiSachsen) November 7, 2020
Update from November 7th, 5.10 p.m
.: Worrying pictures from Leipzig:
The police have formed a chain on the ring to stop the move.
Here, too, a very heated mood.
# le0711 pic.twitter.com/3vziqMt75z
- julius geiler (@glr_berlin) November 7, 2020
Observers in social media report that the situation is now said to have become confusing.
At the main train station, where many of the demonstrators are currently leaving, the situation is difficult for the police to control.
In side streets, groups known as "Antifa" are said to try to stop the march of demonstrators, which has started moving despite the ban.
Several groups of hooligans and neo-Nazis are said to be roaming the city.
Update from November 7, 4:27 p.m.:
While the police asked the demonstrators via Twitter to leave the premises, according to witnesses, the march still started to move:
Despite the ban on the ring, the demo train started moving.
The police watch helplessly.
# le0711 pic.twitter.com/dYNXobMg5b
- julius geiler (@glr_berlin) November 7, 2020
In addition, groups of neo-Nazis who are also not accompanied by the police are said to be on the side streets:
Hundreds of neo-Nazis unaccompanied by the police in the back streets.
# le0711 pic.twitter.com/HL6UpvyhId
- julius geiler (@glr_berlin) November 7, 2020
Update from November 7th, 4:08 pm
: The police have now declared the “lateral thinking demo” on Leipzig's Augustusplatz to be over because of the violations of the Corona requirements.
The city of Leipzig writes on Twitter:
Because of violations of the conditions, the city, as the assembly authority, ended demo # le0711 on Augustusplatz.
- City of Leipzig (@StadtLeipzig) November 7, 2020
Update from November 7th, 3:50 p.m.:
The situation during the anti-corona demo in Leipzig seems to be getting worse.
In addition to supporters of the Stuttgart initiative “Querdenker”, which organized the demo, numerous right-wing extremists also take part in the meeting.
This is what
MDR Sachsen
reports
in relation to reporters on site.
NPD members who had traveled to Leizipg from Thuringia, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony were also spotted.
The situation is tricky because, in addition to the actual demo, there are also many counter-demonstrators from the left-wing milieu in downtown Leipzig.
Twitter videos from local reporters capture the heated mood.
The Saxony police also reported verbal and physical confrontations in which the officers intervened.
Individual bottle dignity on the part of the "lateral thinkers" in the direction of counter-demonstration.
Police with a chain in between.
# le0711 pic.twitter.com/r9H4RMCipr
- julius geiler (@glr_berlin) November 7, 2020
According to local reporters, there are
right-wing hooligans
and
NPD members
as well as supporters of
Antifa
and the
black bloc
in
downtown Leipzig
.
Kick from the right.
# Corona protesters vs.
#Antifa.
Police intervene.
# Leipzig0711 # le0711 #leipzig @welt pic.twitter.com/Z6aZJnrUsz
- Martin Heller (@Ma_Heller) November 7, 2020
Corona demo in Leipzig: meeting briefly interrupted
According to
MDR
, the rally had to be interrupted in between because the
distance
rules
and the
mask
requirement had not been observed.
As a result, the gathering was expanded to include the inner-city cattle and the adjacent streets.
Huge corona demo today in Leipzig: "lateral thinkers" protest - police: "control almost impossible"
Update from November 7th, 1:58 p.m.:
The
Leipzig demo
against the
corona measures
started at 1 p.m.
Several
thousand people
are currently expected to take part in the event.
Very few wore a mask or could keep the minimum distance of one and a half meters.
The space between the Gewandhaus and the Leipzig Opera was packed.
"The control is almost impossible for us,"
said the spokesman for the Leipzig Police Department, Olaf Hoppe.
“At several points around the meeting in Leipzig we acoustically and visually indicate compliance with the requirements.
Minimum distances
must be observed.
It's a
mouth-nose-protective
wear, "the police twitter Saxony.
The requirements of the Infection Protection Act must be complied with so that the meeting can take place.
In the past, officials broke up demonstrations in several cities because the rules had been violated.
At several points around the assembly in #Leipzig we acoustically and visually indicate compliance with the requirements.
Minimum distances must be observed.
Mouth and nose protection must be worn.
# le0711 pic.twitter.com/00syWpu6UC
- Police Saxony (@PolizeiSachsen) November 7, 2020
Update from November 7th, 12:18 pm:
So far, the situation in downtown Leipzig seems to be relaxed.
There are only temporary road closures, the
Saxony police announced
on Twitter.
"We therefore recommend to drive around the city, especially the inner city area."
Due to the numerous gatherings in #Leipzig, there are always temporary road closures.
We therefore recommend that you drive around the city, especially the inner city area.
You can find the latest information on # public transport at @LVB_direkt.
# le0711
- Police Saxony (@PolizeiSachsen) November 7, 2020
In addition, the officials report on "preliminary checks of the arrival traffic".
Control
posts have been set up
in and around
Leipzig
.
“The primary goal is
to ensure protection
against infection
and to
identify violations of the law of assembly,
” it says on Twitter.
Huge corona demo today in Leipzig: 16,000 “lateral thinkers” protest against the rules
First report from November 7th, 10:25 am:
Leipzig - The “lateral thinking” initiative is now allowed to
demonstrate against the Corona * measures in
downtown Leipzig
.
The Bautzen Higher Administrative Court decided that the demonstration with 16,000 people may take place on Augustusplatz, the city announced on Saturday morning.
On Friday evening, the administrative court first confirmed the city's requirements in an urgent procedure.
The city wanted to move the rally to the parking lots of the New Fair outside the city center.
OVG Bautzen overturns the decision of the VG Leipzig: the demo # le0711 can take place with 16,000 participants on Augustusplatz.
- City of Leipzig (@StadtLeipzig) November 7, 2020
A total of 27 demonstrations, meetings and rallies have been
announced
for Saturday (1 p.m.) in
Leipzig
.
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.
Already on Friday evening there was a left demonstration against the gathering of "lateral thinking".
Corona demo Leipzig: According to the OVG, “lateral thinking” is allowed to demonstrate in the city of Leipzig
On Saturday, the
Leipzig police will be supported
by the Saxon
riot
police, emergency services from eight federal states as well as the federal police and the state criminal investigation office.
"We will also have helicopters and loudspeaker vans in use," explained the head of operations at the Leipzig Police Department, Frank Gurke.
+
On Saturday (November 7th) a demonstration of “lateral thinking” is to take place in Leipzig.
The night before, left-wing demonstrators protested the rally.
© Sebastian Willnow / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
The
Leipzig police chief Torsten Schultze
emphasized that there were calls for violence on social networks from both right and left-wing extremist camps.
“However, we have no specific information on acts of violence.” Nevertheless, it was recommended to Leipzigers
to avoid the city center on Saturday,
taking into account the
protection against infection
and due to the large number of participants.
(dpa) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen digital network
List of rubric lists: © Sebastian Willnow / dpa