Demonstration in Bern: 5 people were taken and about 100 were reported

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Since Saturday afternoon, the Bern canton police were present with a large contingent at the Bundesplatz. There was a patrol on every corner. A pickup truck with grenadiers was in the middle of the square, as reported by a reporter at the scene. The canton police marked his presence and had apparently changed tactics compared to previous Saturdays. The reason for this will have been the restriction to a maximum of 15 people in the rallies between December 19 and 22. that the governing council announced on Friday.

However, on Telegram, the encouraging Switzerland, the Corona rebels and the Corona Helvetia rebels again called rallies on Saturday afternoon in Bern. In the early afternoon, according to the journalist, the police sacked the people sitting in the red chairs on the Bundesplatz. At this time, according to a report, the police also checked groups of people in Spitalgasse and turned them away, such as in Bundesplatz. He had violated the guidelines and failed to take protective measures against the coronavirus.

More and more protesters

Later in the afternoon, the frantic pace increased: more than a hundred people without masks gathered at the Bundesplatz. There were also people with motorcycle helmets among the protesters and many families with children. Most spoke French and sang “Liberté” (English: freedom). The police asked the bilinguals by megaphone to break up the demonstration. The crowd responded with boos.

According to a report, the police searched the people and turned them away. Three protesters had to be transferred to the police premises due to their behavior. They are denounced, among other things, for acts of violence and threats against authorities and officials.

Shortly before 5 pm, a remaining crowd of protesters gathered on the chess field next to the Bundesplatz. They danced, clapped and shouted “Liberté” over and over again, and many children were there too. According to the local journalist, the mood was tense, but not too hostile. Then the police cordoned off the chess field.

The approximately 50 to 100 remaining protesters gathered in front of the Café Fédéral in front of the Bundesplatz. From there they made their way to the train station, mingled briefly with the numerous shoppers, and then continued to Neuengasse.

The protesters were surrounded in Ryffligässchen and the police cordoned off the area. Individuals screamed, a child cried. Otherwise the entire Ryfflihof was quiet. Then the demonstration participants were individually removed from the group, checked, and rejected. Two rebels had to be transferred to a police station. According to a police report, around a hundred people can expect to be reported for not having implemented any protection measures.

Meanwhile, calm had returned to the Bundesplatz. The chess players were playing again, the city emptied. At 7pm the pickles closed.

Müller satisfied with the police

Police Director Philippe Müller was also present at the demonstration. As it usually is, as he explained on Saturday night. He wants to get a concrete idea of ​​each one. “The police did a very good job,” he said. Preparing for an announced rally is not difficult, Müller said. How this plays out, then, is a different matter. But they expected fewer people than finally arrived. Although the contingent was not huge, the policemen reacted well.

“Showing up in this situation is completely unreasonable.”

Philippe Müller, Police Director

Müller did not stop harshly criticizing the protesters: “Hospitals and nursing staff are on the attack, restaurants and other facilities are closed, everyone has problems; demonstrating in this situation is completely unreasonable,” he said. That is why the cantonal government decided on Friday to allow only 15 people to participate in a demonstration. “Now is not the time to demonstrate.”

mbu / ngg / sih / js

Posted today at 2:21 pm