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Horror in Leipzig: the police chief defends the mission
| Reading time: 4 minutes
Unrest after the demonstration of “lateral thinking” in Leipzig
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated against the Crown restrictions in Leipzig and ignored them en masse. At first all remains peaceful, but when the city breaks up the meeting, the mood changes.
This day is likely to have political consequences in Leipzig: first 20,000 “lateral thinkers” demonstrated against the crown’s measures in the middle of the lockdown, then the Connewitz police were attacked.
northAfter escalating protests against Corona’s measures in Leipzig, calls for a political reassessment of events are strong. Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) was shocked by the events. This “is not justified by anything,” Lambrecht said in Berlin on Sunday. “I strongly condemn the attacks on the police and the press.” Freedom to demonstrate “is not freedom to use violence and put others at massive risk.”
“How the situation could escalate now needs a deep clarification,” demanded the justice minister. This situation in the midst of the pandemic should not be repeated. The Justice Minister also criticized the demonstration in Leipzig: “The scoffing of science and the agitation of the extreme right that we have seen are horrible.” The Corona deniers also endangered not only themselves, but everyone. “Thousands together without masks are a peak of irresponsibility and selfishness,” lambrecht criticized.
State policy in Saxony also called for consequences: “The Saxon security organs lost all confidence during (the demonstration) # le0711. Roland Wöller’s inaction as Interior Minister is no longer acceptable, ”wrote the Greens on Twitter. “There is a lot to work on!” The left-wing faction tweeted on Saturday night. SPD member of state parliament Albrecht Pallas also asked for an evaluation at a special meeting of the Interior Committee.
Meanwhile, Saxon Interior Minister Roland Wöller (CDU) criticized the approval of the lateral thinking demonstration by the Higher Administrative Court (OVG). It was irresponsible to allow such a gathering with more than 16,000 people in times of the crown pandemic in central Leipzig, he said.
In Leipzig on Saturday, at least 20,000 people from across Germany protested against the federal government’s coronation measures. At first, the demonstration on Augustusplatz was largely peaceful. Later, the city of Leipzig dissolved the protest because many people did not cover their mouths and noses and did not keep the minimum distance. But thousands resisted dissolution and marched on the downtown ring.
Police said Saturday night that they had initiated 32 administrative offense proceedings and recorded seven offenses, including forgery, name calling and resisting law enforcement officers. According to the police, 90 percent of the protesters did not wear mouth and nose protection. According to the situation center, the situation was calm in the early hours of Sunday.
Police chief defends himself
Leipzig Police Chief Torsten Schultze defended the police action. The mission had three goals: to ensure a peaceful course, prevent possible acts of violence and enforce protection against infections, Schultze said in a video statement. The first two goals were largely achieved, the third was not.
After the demonstration broke up, there was great pressure on the police cordon at Augustusplatz, Schultze said. The use of violence “was not indicated.” “A pandemic is not fought with police means, but only with the common sense of the people,” said the police chief.
The left spoke on Twitter about the failure of the state and a fact of many dimensions. “We experienced a possible super spreader event,” the party’s Saxon regional association tweeted. “We have seen how valid hygiene requirements have been constantly ignored in the eyes of the police at this event.”
Dulig: “They are chaotic”
“The escalation and reckless behavior of the so-called lateral thinkers are shocking. They are chaotic, ”Saxon Economy Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) wrote on Twitter. In fact, the city had wanted to move the demonstration to the outskirts to protect against infection. The administrative court in Leipzig had confirmed this, the OVG decided differently: it allowed a rally with 16,000 participants. Elevators were not allowed.
On Saturday night, the Leipzig police also experienced a major operation when they were attacked by rioters in Leipzig’s Connewitz district. Windows at the Wiedebach-Passage police station were damaged on Saturday night, as said by police spokesman Olaf Hoppe. There were cobblestones in front of the building. In addition, barricades were set on fire in several streets in the district.
The water cannons moved in Connewitz
The police arrived with a large contingent. Two water cannons were launched. For one thing, this put out the fires. On the other hand, the police made announcements threatening the use of water cannons if people on the street did not behave peacefully. Video recordings of the vehicles were also made. A helicopter flew over the neighborhood.
Initially there were no reports of injuries. Several alleged participants were captured by the police.
Police used water cannons during the Connewitz riots
Quelle: dpa / Sebastian Willnow
It was not initially clear if there was a connection to the lateral thinking manifestation, the spokesperson said. District police had already come under fire on Friday after they arrested a suspected left-wing extremist. Stones flew there too.
