The so-called “Day X” of the radical left-wing scene in Leipzig remains prohibited after a court decision. Nevertheless, action is expected, possibly including violence. There have already been riots.
Before a left-wing autonomous solidarity day for the convicted student Lina E., hooded people attacked police officers in Leipzig.
After an initially peaceful meeting at Wiedebachplatz in the Connewitz district, stones and pyrotechnics suddenly flew out of a crowd of several hundred masked people at officials. In addition, barricades from rubbish bins and construction site barriers burned. The police used tear gas and extinguished the burning barricades with water cannons.
Today “Tax X”
The so-called “Day X” this Saturday was declared in response to the conviction of the student Lina E. and three co-defendants for assaults on alleged or actual neo-Nazis.
In anticipation of impending riots, the police are preparing a large-scale operation. Leipzig’s Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD) was concerned about security in the trade fair city in view of numerous calls for violence on social media.
Demo remains forbidden
A left-wing autonomous demonstration planned for today remains prohibited. The administrative court in Leipzig rejected an urgent application against the ban by the city late Friday afternoon. A complaint was lodged with the Saxon Higher Administrative Court in Bautzen in the evening. According to a spokesman, a decision should be made later that night.
The city had the “Day X” demo with the motto “United we stand – Despite everything, defend autonomous anti-fascism!” forbidden because an unpeaceful course was to be feared. The basis for this were risk forecasts by the police and situation assessments by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
In left circles had been mobilized nationwide. Police said there were also threats of violence and calls for militancy. In addition, the registered number of participants of 400 to 500 does not seem realistic in the slightest – on the contrary, a much higher number of participants can be expected, according to the administrative court.
Police officers from all over Germany on duty
A so-called control area has been in effect in Leipzig since Friday 6:00 p.m., which includes large parts of the city in the east, south and west. There, the police can stop people and check their personal details for no particular reason. The police had announced that arrival traffic on the streets and at the main train station should also be controlled.
According to the police department in Leipzig, it is supported by hundreds of people including technology from twelve federal states and by the federal police.
In addition to “Day X”, there are a number of other major events in Leipzig this weekend. It’s a city festival, singer Herbert Grönemeyer is giving a concert in front of tens of thousands of visitors and on Saturday the football clubs Lok Leipzig and Chemnitzer FC are playing for the Saxony Cup. A cancellation of the game was considered, but ultimately rejected.