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The riots in Leipzig sparked outrage from all parties. The CDU is calling for tougher penalties for attacks on the police; They are preparing for another demonstration.
Two consecutive nights of riots in Leipzig sparked outrage. Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD) condemned the outbreaks of violence by suspected left-wing extremists “in the strongest terms.”
Saxon Interior Minister Roland Wöller (CDU) called the attacks on police officers unacceptable and called for harsher penalties.
Leipzig Green Party member Monika Lazar wrote on Twitter that violence is not a solution and is counterproductive in the affordable rent debate.
The demonstrations on Thursday and Friday night were reactions to two squatters in Leipzig, each of which had been terminated by the police. From the sometimes very aggressive elevators in eastern Leipzig and in the Connewitz district, masked people threw stones and bottles at the police. Several officers were slightly injured, according to police. Several cars were also damaged.
Tram paralyzed, barricades burned
During the operation on Friday night, two police cars collided with each other in a shower of stones at relatively high speed. Barricades made of lit garbage cans paralyzed streetcar traffic. The police used tear gas.
According to police, there were no arrests Friday night. Officials got numerous traces. That night they collected the stones that had been thrown at the cars and the emergency services. The prints were also secured overnight in front of the Connewitz police station, which had also been thrown with stones.
“Setback for the housing debate”
With the occupations and violent clashes, the affordable housing debate suffered a serious setback, said city chief Jung. “You don’t create a living space by attacking police officers and setting fire to barricades.”
The important housing debate is becoming much more difficult now, because now lost confidence must be regained. Like other big cities, Leipzig is struggling with rising rents and pressure from displacement.
Interior Minister Wöller announced that he would campaign for harsher penalties for acts of violence against police officers. The latest events showed it was just about brute force against people and things, he said. “In particular, the attacks directed against police officers have reached an unbearable level and are unacceptable.”
In the event of assault on law enforcement officers, the minimum penalty is currently three months. Wöller came out in favor of increasing it to six months. The vice-chairman of the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei, spoke in favor of a higher sentence. Society must be more protective against the security forces.
The Greens call for a debate on the causes
The Leipzig Greens harshly condemned the throwing of stones and the burning of barricades. However, the causes of occupations and riots must be dealt with. Empty houses should not be the subject of speculation.
Meanwhile, the police were preparing for another mission. At night, in the Connewitz district, there was a demonstration under the slogan “Combine struggles – For supportive neighbors,” police said. According to the city, 100 participants have been announced.
