Almost 600 arrests during lateral thinker protests in Berlin

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A police officer is holding a participant in the "lateral thinking" demo in Berlin

Photo: Christophe Gateau / dpa

Once again, several thousand people demonstrated against the German corona policy in Berlin at the weekend - and again demonstrators attacked police officers.

Now the Berlin police announced that they had temporarily arrested a total of 576 people over the weekend in order to determine their personal details.

A total of 544 preliminary investigations were initiated.

The investigation is therefore about administrative offenses due to participation in a prohibited meeting, but also about crimes such as attempted release of prisoners, breaches of the peace and physical attacks on police officers.

Seventeen police officers were injured, most of them minor.

There have also been unsuccessful attempts to break through barriers into the government district.

The police used irritant gas.

Cat and mouse game with the police

In at least one case, a police officer hit the head of an arrested person with his knee.

According to the Berlin police, the officer is being investigated and there are consequences under service law.

In total, up to 5000 people demonstrated against the German corona policy in the capital at the weekend, despite bans.

They walked through the city in several elevators, repeatedly playing cat and mouse with the police.

The "lateral thinking" initiative originated in Stuttgart.

Your supporters have been taking to the streets against the corona measures for more than a year, right-wing extremist circles and parts of the Reich citizen scene are part of the environment.

The "lateral thinking" movement in Stuttgart and other regions of Germany is now being observed by various offices for the protection of the constitution.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution observes the scene as a so-called collective observation object, similar to Salafism.

In the past, there have been more frequent physical attacks on police officers, politicians and journalists.

mrc / dpa