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After the riots in Leipzig, Saxon Interior Minister Roland Wöller announced that he would campaign for harsher penalties for acts of violence against police officers. The latest events showed that it was only brute force against people and things, the CDU politician said on Saturday. “In particular, the attacks directed against police officers have reached an unbearable level and are unacceptable.” It should be clear to everyone that in a democracy, protest can only be peaceful.
Saxony had already voted for tougher penalties at the interior ministers conference in spring. 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.
Two consecutive nights of rioting sparked outrage in Leipzig. Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD) on Saturday condemned the violent outbursts by suspected left-wing extremists “in the strongest terms.”
Green Bundestag 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 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. 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. They packed the projectiles one by one in paper bags and took them away. The prints were also secured overnight in front of the Connewitz police station, which had also been thrown with stones.
With the occupations and violent clashes, the debate over affordable living space suffered a serious setback, city chief Jung said on Saturday. “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.
Greens condemn violence
The Leipzig Greens also harshly condemned the stone-throwing 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 prepared for another operation on Saturday. 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.
