Well over 1000 police officers are monitoring the ban on demonstrations this Wednesday evening – this is noticeable in downtown Munich. The number is massive at prominent places like Stachus or Odeonsplatz and in many streets. An announcement is made that violations of the Corona requirements may result in a fine of 3000 euros. For many, the evening should be really expensive.
Several hundred people march through the city center in small groups, apparently in the course of the evening the Stachus was announced as a destination via a telegram channel. The police repeatedly arrest groups and take down personal details. Marching marches form again and again, for example in the valley and in Lindwurmstrasse. Police spokesman Andreas Franken still calls the events around 8 p.m. “highly dynamic”.
At least four groups, each with more than 100 participants, were arrested, and the alleged leaders of the groups were brought to police headquarters. You can expect criminal charges to be reported. Videos on Twitter also show people chanting through the streets. Sometimes the people can be seen in the valley, also at Marienplatz and in Kaufingerstraße.
A helicopter has been circling over the city the whole evening, monitoring where groups are forming. Barriers were set up in Ludwigstrasse and a few other corners of the university district. At Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, the police prevented large crowds from gathering.
Around 6.30 p.m. there were two arrests on Ludwigstrasse. A few hundred of the self-proclaimed “strollers” wanted to make their way towards Odeonsplatz when the police shut everything down on Rheinbergstrasse. Entrances are also cordoned off on Königsplatz and the corner of Türkenstrasse and Briennerstrasse. At around 8.15 p.m., several video recordings show a larger group of people on Marienplatz in front of the Old Town Hall.
The police are present on Wednesday evening in numerous places, such as here at Stachus.
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
The federal police increased the number of their officers for the evening and requested additional forces from the federal riot police. You are in close contact with the police headquarters and Deutsche Bahn Sicherheit. Police director Michael Rupp, the head of inspections of the Munich Federal Police, also reminded of the infection protection measures applicable in local public transport and on trains and the FFP2 mask requirement, which also applies in the main train station.
Melchior Ibing, a spokesman for the group “Munich stands up”, has called on his supporters to remain peaceful in a video message. He had the impression, however, that “the government” was doing everything “to provoke an escalation”.
This representation was immediately taken up in the Telegram group: There was talk of “hidden warfare that the politicians play here” and of “violent provocations by the police and (…) by infiltrated provocateurs”. One suggests: “Better to surround the cops, turn the tables.”
Administrative court approves conditions for corona demo – but 5000 people allowed
The legal situation in Munich on Wednesday evening is as follows: Rallies are only allowed if they have been registered 48 hours in advance – So that should have happened by Monday evening. For the rally, which was moved from the city to Theresienwiese, the district administration department approved 2,000 participants, the Munich Administrative Court, which the organizers called on, then even 5,000 in the afternoon. As many as the grouping requested.
However, the administrative court has largely approved the conditions imposed by the state capital for a corona demonstration on Wednesday evening. In particular, the court rejected an urgent application by the organizers against the city’s ban on a demonstration march and against the relocation of a rally from the university district to Theresienwiese.
“Munich is getting up” officially canceled this rally a little later. A stationary meeting is “inhumane”. The group was apparently not particularly interested in a rally that complied with the requirements: “We did not decide to file a lawsuit out of naivety,” the group had already explained its tactics on Tuesday. “This time we are suing to make it very clear that we are exhausting all avenues.”
Corona-related demonstrations that have not been registered as “walks” are prohibited on Wednesday and Thursday. But the police will also disband larger groups that cannot be identified as a gathering. Because according to the Infection Protection Ordinance, only a maximum of ten people are allowed to meet. Provided they are all vaccinated.