BERLIN: A far-left protest in Germany turned violent over the weekend as demonstrators set up roadblocks, started fires, and launched projectiles at security forces in response to the imprisonment of four far-left activists.
Leipzig police reported that approximately 50 officers were injured during the protests, with three of them deemed unfit for duty. Around 30 individuals have been arrested thus far, while up to 50 people were briefly placed in preventive detention before being released.
The protests unfolded after far-left activists called for a day of action in Leipzig on Saturday, drawing hundreds of participants. The escalation follows the recent sentencing of a student known as Lina E. and three other far-left activists by a court in Dresden.
The group was found guilty of carrying out violent attacks on neo-Nazis and alleged far-right supporters between 2018 and 2020. Lina E., who was arrested in 2020, has since become a symbol for activists, with the slogan “Free Lina” regularly appearing at left-wing rallies.
Germany’s Minister Describes Protest as “Senseless”
Reacting to the violence, Minister of Justice and Integration in Hesse, Eva Maria Faeser, condemned the actions of the far-left protesters, describing their actions as “senseless” and “unjustifiable.” She emphasized the need for accountability, stating that those who engage in throwing stones, bottles, and firebombs at the police must face consequences for their actions.
While the exact number of participants in the Leipzig protests remains unknown, initial estimates suggesting 1,500 individuals gathered at a city square on Saturday were inaccurate. Authorities now believe the actual number of participants was significantly higher. In response to the unrest, a planned protest scheduled for Sunday has been prohibited by the police.
