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Berlin police arrest 300, disband protest against coronavirus curbs


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Posted

Berlin police arrest 300, disband protest against coronavirus curbs

 

2020-08-29T183304Z_1_LYNXMPEG7S0GO_RTROPTP_4_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-GERMANY-PROTEST.JPG

A protester lights a flare in front of the Reichstag Building during a rally against the government's restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Berlin, Germany, August 29, 2020. REUTERS/Christian Mang

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Berlin police broke up a mass protest against coronavirus curbs on Saturday and arrested 300 in the German capital after demonstrators failed to keep their distance and wear masks as instructed.

 

Around 38,000 protesters gathered for events across the city and police reported pockets of unrest, as infections rise in Europe and public frustration at measures to contain the virus grows. Similar events took place in Paris, London and elsewhere on Saturday.

 

"Unfortunately, we have no other option," Berlin police said on Twitter, adding that those taking part had failed to comply with the safety conditions of the march.

 

At a demonstration close to Brandenburg Gate, several thousand were still gathered by early evening, some throwing rocks and bottles. Police arrested around 200 protesters, Berlin's interior minister Andreas Geisel said, describing the group as "extremist". Seven police were injured.

 

Nearby, a separate protest with around 30,000 was expected to carry on until 9 p.m. because demonstrators were respecting the social distancing rules, Geisel said.

 

Police said some 3,000 officers had been deployed to control the crowds. Police had been preparing for possible violence as activists urged social media followers across Europe to arm themselves and gather in Berlin.

 

Berlin initially banned the protests but a German regional court overnight gave the final go-ahead by overruling the earlier decision.

 

Until now Germany has managed the coronavirus crisis better than many of its European counterparts, with rigorous testing helping to hold down infections and deaths. There have been more than 9,000 deaths so far.

 

But new daily infections have accelerated in recent weeks, as in much of the world.

 

On Friday, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to keep up their guard against the virus.

 

"This is a serious matter, as serious as it's ever been, and you need to carry on taking it seriously," she said.

 

Protesters had gathered before the Brandenburg Gate ahead of the march with signs reading "Stop the corona lies" and "Merkel must go".

 

Elsewhere in Europe, about 200 anti-mask activists held a rally in Paris to protest against sanitary measures with slogans such as "No to the health dictatorship" and "Let our children breathe".

 

In London, several hundred demonstrators gathered in Trafalgar Square calling coronavirus a hoax and demanding an end to restrictions.

 

Many carried banners saying "Fake News," or "Masks are Muzzles" and rejecting any mandatory vaccination programmes.

The virus has killed more than 40,000 people in Britain.

 

There were peaceful protests in Vienna and Zurich.

 

(Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.)

 

(Reporting by Ralf Bode, Elke Ahlswede, Christian Goetz and Sabine Ehrhardt in Berlin; additional reporting by Tom Sims in Frankfurt, Yiming Woo in Paris and Stephen Addison in London, Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi in Zurich and François Murphy; in Vienna; writing by Tom Sims; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Helen Popper, Alexandra Hudson and Clelia Oziel)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-30
 
Posted

Good for them I hope they are fined and or jailed repeat offenders should be made to work in covid wards or dig graves for the dead meanwhile here in the states trump is hosting super spreader events we are toast here till we get responsible leadership 

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Posted
3 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

38,000 in Berlin, 10,000+ in London, people have had enough of this complete and utter farce. David Icke.......

Thats as far as I got reading your post, the man is away with the fairies.

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Posted

Didn't they just have a large BLM rally recently? One OK and the other not, its a political not a health decision.

 

Seems though we are basically two different groups, those that submit to and believe whatever government tells them and those that don't. Funny how through all the various government scandals we mock the corruption and stupidity of politicians, yet when they raise the swastika, most just bow down and obey.

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Posted
7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Around 38,000 protesters gathered for events across the city and police reported pockets of unrest, as infections rise in Europe

Evolution at work .

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Posted
3 hours ago, Flying Saucage said:

Germany has a very sensible, effective and pragmatic approach to fight the pandemic.

LoL. You made my rainy day in Bavaria. Thank you

Posted
3 hours ago, The Barmbeker said:

Ahm,,,yeah,,,no!

Friend of mine who lives in Berlin, was THERE!

Hardly ANY social distancing and almost noone wearing a mask!

These covidiots wanted their demonstration...they got it under certain rules to be followed...they broke those rules (distancing, masks)...and that's the end of it!

 

“When a wise man points at the moon the imbecile examines the finger.”


Confucius
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Posted
3 hours ago, The Barmbeker said:

Ahm,,,yeah,,,no!

Friend of mine who lives in Berlin, was THERE!

Hardly ANY social distancing and almost noone wearing a mask!

These covidiots wanted their demonstration...they got it under certain rules to be followed...they broke those rules (distancing, masks)...and that's the end of it!

If it is a demonstration in which people disagree with the rules of distancing/wearing masks would you expect anyone to do them? Just saying....

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