After the large demonstration, the police speak of the most peaceful May Day in years. The day was mostly quiet in other major cities as well. In Hamburg, a man was seriously injured.
There were few incidents at the May demonstrations by left-wing groups in several German cities this year. In Berlin, the police even spoke of an “amazingly peaceful” course. “There are indications that it was the most peaceful May since 1987,” said a police spokesman shortly before midnight. According to the control center, there were no significant incidents until the early morning.
The Berlin police reported nine arrests at the traditional demonstration of left-wing and left-wing extremist groups on May 1st. According to previous knowledge, a police officer was injured, the spokesman said. Today the mission should be a topic in the new Berlin Senate. The new Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) and Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) want to present an evaluation.
Anti-Israel calls in Berlin
The so-called “Revolutionary May Day” demonstration in Berlin started in the early evening with several thousand people. The train ran from Neukölln past a new police station at Kottbusser Tor in Kreuzberg, but ended prematurely. The organizer justified this with the police presence, it said. The police spoke of around 12,000 participants, the organizers of 20,000.
Various blocks, including many participants dressed in black, formed up. Occasionally Bengalos or firecrackers were ignited. Palestinian flags were also seen and anti-Israel chants were heard. The Jewish Forum rated some calls on Twitter as anti-Semitic. The police had planned a total of 6,300 emergency services for Monday.
A seriously injured in Hamburg
A man was seriously injured on the sidelines of the May Day events in Hamburg. Video recordings show how numerous demonstrators leave the Schlump subway station and apparently try to run away from the police. A police officer bumped into one of the demonstrators with force. The man had to be treated by paramedics. Police confirmed that he suffered serious injuries. The Internal Investigations Department is now investigating the case.
At a demonstration organized by anarchists in Hamburg, officials surrounded a group of several dozen masked people. A black block of around 150 people had previously delayed the march by refusing to remove their masks.
According to the police, a total of around 1,000 people took part in the demonstration by the “Black-Red May 1st” alliance. After the intervention of the police, the leader of the meeting broke up the rally. Together with similar demos, the number of participants in the Hanseatic city was around 5000.
Counter-demonstrations in Leipzig and Dresden
A large contingent of police was also on duty in Leipzig on Labor Day. In the trade fair city, there were often incidents around May 1 that came from left-wing groups. According to the available information, however, things have also remained quiet this year. Among other things, demos were registered in the city, which were directed against an event by right-wing extremists in the city.
Counter-demonstrators also came together in Dresden, they formed against an AfD assembly. The party called for an event downtown. The AfD federal spokesman and member of the Bundestag Tino Chrupalla spoke.
Pyrotechnics and smoke bombs in Stuttgart
At a similar “Revolutionary May Day” demonstration in Stuttgart, the police said they had to intervene several times. A police spokesman said that activists from the left-wing extremist spectrum masked themselves, did not pass on the conditions and drowned out official announcements with loud music. After throwing a red smoke bomb, the officers used pepper spray. According to the police, several people had to be treated for eye irritation.
The organizer ended the rally, demonstrators are said to have ignited pyrotechnics again. Earlier, some left-wing extremist protesters threw smoke bombs at regular Labor Day rallies, a police spokesman said. The officers used pepper spray and batons.