Possible butyric acid in a festival tent, stolen hats, a daubed memorial – the police have taken stock of the Coburg Convent (CC). As the authorities announced on Tuesday, the crimes and violations were exclusively attributable to the counter-demonstrators’ camp. A total of eleven counter-events were registered around the controversial event of the merger of student associations, regional teams and gymnastics associations.
According to a police spokesman, around 2,500 CC participants came to Coburg. On the other hand, the police counted between 400 and 500 people on Monday, according to the spokesman. Although more counter-demonstrators had gathered than in the previous year, there were no major clashes, according to the spokesman. Nevertheless, there was “definitely something for the police to do.”
On Monday, for example, CC opponents are said to have spilled a smelly liquid in the convent’s marquee, so that the tent had to be ventilated and several beer table sets had to be cleaned. As the spokesman said, investigators suspected that the substance could be butyric acid, but the liquid still needs to be examined.
According to police reports, tires on two cars were damaged in front of a hotel, one of which belonged to a CC participant, and the convent’s memorial was daubed with paint. The police also recorded five thefts of fraternity hats, four violations of the mask ban and two insults to officials.
The Coburg Convent is an association of student associations, regional teams and gymnastics groups from Germany and Austria that meets annually at Pentecost in Coburg. The event includes, among other things, a torch relay through Coburg city center. Only men are allowed to take part in the meeting. Opponents describe the event as backwards and accuse the convention of having a sexist and nationalist attitude.