According to the police, participants in the counter-demonstrations are under suspicion. Nationalism and patriarchal structures are accused of the violent student fraternities, which meet every year in Coburg.
After a suspected arson attack on the car of a participant in the Coburg Pentecost Convention, the State Security Commissariat of the criminal police is investigating. A car parked next to it was also damaged by the heat, the police said on Tuesday. When securing evidence, officials found fire accelerators on the burned-out car.
In addition, there were two physical attacks on participants at the meeting of student associations and several damage to property. The investigators said that participants in the six counter-rallies were under suspicion.
The Coburger Convent (CC) is an association of almost 100 student associations from Germany and Austria and claims to have more than 11,000 members. On the Pentecost weekend, members of the CC traditionally meet for celebrations in Coburg.
More and more serious crimes were committed against members of the CC this year than in previous years, the police said. Among other things, visitors to the counter-rallies tried to disrupt the celebrations of the CC on the Coburg market square.
Critics accuse the CC of nationalism and patriarchal structures. Women cannot become members and the Convention does not accept women’s associations. Above all, the torch march on Whit Monday is seen by critics as a backward-looking tradition reminiscent of National Socialism.