Corona demonstrations in Vienna: the demonstrations were largely peaceful

01/16/2021 Austria

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The march of opponents of the Crown measures in Vienna began peacefully on Saturday, but then there were riots, almost clashes with counter-protesters and attacks against system media.

19.52, January 16, 2021

Police spokesman Markus Dittrich confirmed it would be until the afternoon five arrests have given. The APA heard from police circles. two more. According to the police, a little more march 10,000 against corona measures, according to the organizer more than 50,000.

By 2 p.m., around 6,000 to 7,000 activists had gathered at Maria-Theresien-Platz, and another 3,000, according to Dittrich, at Heldenplatz. As expected in advance, there was also a lively interest from the right-wing extremist scene. At around 2.30pm, the two groups met in the ring. The protesters weren’t really interested in complying with the Covid-19 Measures Law, hardly any protection for the mouth and nose to be seen, even with former FPÖ president Heinz-Christian Strache, at least temporarily. Nor were the distance rules observed. Following criticism on social media, the police tweeted: “Numerous identifications have already been made for not knowing the COVID requirements. Those affected are of course also reported.”

Today, winter Vienna is once again the epicenter of many protesters.

Kleine Zeitung / Jungwirth

According to the Interior Ministry, these protests contain explosives. A mix of Reich citizens, vaccine opponents, conspiracy ideologues and extremists from the right and left take to the streets today.

A Krampus is there too …

The police are prepared accordingly.

A person may have misunderstood the mask requirement.

On Saturday lunchtime, the first participants of the anti-crown demonstrations gathered at Maria-Theresien-Platz in the center of Vienna.

Not following the measurements was not surprising: During the opening speeches at Maria-Theresien-Platz, a spokeswoman had already spoken rudely against the obligation to wear mouth and nose protection and keep your distance: “Throw the dirty cloth (meaning: mask, note) by end, “he asked the protesters. Note: Numerous studies have already examined the effectiveness of masks. A general analysis of several studies, which was published in the journal “The Lancet” in June 2020, finally concluded that a mask appreciably reduces the risk of infection. Johannes Knobloch, Head of Hospital Hygiene at the Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Center, explained last October: “We know that a mask keeps droplets away and reduces the transmission of aerosols. Therefore, the number of droplet infections through a mask should be significantly reduced, the transmission of aerosols also in many situations “.

The initially peaceful march through the ring against the direction of travel intensified at the level of the Stubentor: A group of around 15, 20 counter-protesters had sat on the road and blocked the march. “We vaccinated them all,” they launched at the anti-corona activists. Soccer hooligans tried to attack them, but the police separated the two groups. The hooligans directed their aggression at the representatives of the media. An APA cameraman reported that the activists harassed and threatened him. Freelance journalist Michael Bonvalot wrote on Twitter that a photographer had been beaten and kicked, and that he himself had been threatened.

The police finally lifted the blockade and established the identities of the activists. The march of the anti-crown activists continued and arrived at Heldenplatz again around 5.30 pm, where the rally ended shortly thereafter and the activists initially moved to Maria-Theresien-Platz. There the meeting continued with some speeches until 6:30 pm

Many right-wing extremists also participated in the demonstration. Police circles confirmed to the APA that the spokesman for right-wing extremist identities, Martin Sellner, was at the demonstration. The APA also learned from police circles that the neo-Nazi Gottfried Küssel, who had been convicted several times, was at the rally with two buses full of like-minded people from the Oberwart area and old comrades in arms from the time of the Forbidden People. loyal to the extra-parliamentary opposition (VAPO) of the Langenlois area. According to intelligence agencies, there are strong indications that Küssel wants to reunite VAPO cadres sometimes. The VAPO was destroyed in the mid-1990s.

A counter demonstration also took place

Around 1 pm there was a counter demonstration started at the corner of Stephansplatz-Graben. According to police spokesman Markus Dittrich, between 150 and 200 protesters from the left spectrum initially participated, from VSStÖ and young socialists to anti-fascist organizations. The demonstration is directed against the “madness that is taking place today at Heldenplatz,” said one speaker.

On the banners, the counter-activists not only critically addressed the anti-crown protests, but also the government’s crisis policy, which they consider too slow. Around The final rally took place at 2:30 pm this finally about 500 strong protesters march on the Ballhausplatz. From the ranks of these activists, some protesters who were responsible for the blockade and other individual disruptive actions may have gathered.

At 9:30 am the ordinance banning seats in the area of the provisional parliament building came into force. This area can only be entered with the express consent of LPD Vienna and evidence of a corresponding need. #Rallies #Inner city https://t.co/A2x7LllxVN

– VIENNA POLICE (@LPDWien) January 16, 2021

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Corona demonstrations in Vienna: the demonstrations were largely peaceful

A counter demonstration also took place

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