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The police had prepared for new riots through protests against the Corona measures, but it remained largely calm
Photo:
Sebastian Willnow / dpa
Police helicopters were on site, water cannons were ready - but their use was not necessary: The feared riots in downtown Leipzig by opponents of the corona measures did not materialize on Saturday afternoon.
According to the Leipzig police, it was very quiet in the city.
The organizers of the "lateral thinking" movement had not registered their demonstration in due time and therefore received no approval.
The city of Leipzig issued a ban on gatherings for rallies that were not previously announced for the entire city area.
According to the police, a bus with demonstrators was stopped on the way to Leipzig.
Reports were filed against the driver and 30 occupants.
In addition, the owner of a bus company from Vogtland had spoken to the threats beforehand.
In Leipzig city center, there were probably only a few dozen skeptics of the Corona measures on site.
Police spokesman Olaf Hoppe told SPIEGEL that around 70 administrative offenses had been punished by late afternoon, mostly due to a lack of mouth and nose protection.
In various telegram groups, the opponents of the measures called out alternative meeting points outside the city center and in the neighboring town of Markkleeberg, but these were checked and turned out to be false information, as police spokesman Hoppe said.
In Dresden and Berlin, too, where rallies were also planned, things apparently remained calm at first.
"You can announce a ban, but then you have to enforce it"
According to police spokesman Hoppe, more than 2,000 officers from six federal states and the federal police were on duty in Leipzig.
When asked about the proportionality of these numbers, he said: “You can announce a ban, but then you have to enforce it.
But that also means that you have to be on site with the appropriate staff. "
Counter-demonstrations, which were organized by the satirical party "The Party", among others, took place in Leipzig in compliance with hygiene regulations - with a small participation.
Leipzig hit the headlines nationwide on November 7th after a "lateral thinking" demonstration got out of hand.
Around 20,000 people protested peacefully, but did not adhere to the applicable hygiene requirements for corona prevention.
The city of Leipzig broke up the protest because many participants did not wear a mouth and nose cover and did not keep the minimum distance.
Thousands resisted and marched across the inner city ring.
The security forces were then accused of failure.
At the end of November, another "lateral thinking" demonstration in Leipzig led to riots.
For this Saturday, the police had therefore again prepared for a large-scale operation.
It was difficult to estimate how many people are really being mobilized to Leipzig, said police spokesman Hoppe.
This time, however, due to the general situation, there was a different legal situation and thus also clearer bans.
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