North Rhine-Westphalia: Several injured in Kurdish demonstrations

Kurds have demonstrated against the Turkish military offensive in northern Syria on Wednesday in several cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. They accuse the government in Ankara of an anti-international war of aggression. However, some of the protests on Wednesday have escalated. At least nine people were injured, including five policemen.

In downtown Bottrop provoked on Wednesday evening participants of the demonstration and several passers-by of Turkish origin, police said. There were stones flown. "We could only prevent a clash because we were in the city center with a strong police presence," said a police spokeswoman.

During the clashes five police officers were slightly injured, as well as two other men and one woman. The police arrested five suspects on charges of assault and took on 11 other men's personal data.

In Lüdenscheid , a Turkish-born German was severely injured in a Kurdish demonstration. A previously unknown has injured the 50-year-old man with a knife stab in the back, said a spokesman for the police. The victim was taken to a hospital. The exact background of the deed are so far unclear. A homicide commission has been set up and state security has also taken over the investigation.

Tens of thousands of participants expected at demonstration in Cologne

Already on Monday evening there had been riots in a demonstration of Kurds in Herne. According to police, five people were injured. The Federal Government Commissioner for Integration subsequently called on the Kurds and Turks living in Germany to refrain from bringing the dispute over the conflict in northern Syria to Germany. She expects "especially from migrant organizations and religious communities to take responsibility and contribute to moderation," said Annette Widmann-Mauz.

Last week, Turkey launched its threatened military offensive against predominantly Kurdish areas in northern Syria. Since then, Kurds have been demonstrating against Ankara's actions in numerous German cities. A demonstration against the Turkish invasion is planned for next Saturday in Cologne, to which the organizers expect tens of thousands of participants.