Berlin police on Sunday said they had arrested at least 240 people after May Day rallies descended into what they said was “unacceptable” violence that saw protesters pelt officers with stones and set fire to bins.
Over 30,000 people from across the political spectrum reportedly took part in several marches in the German capital on Saturday as part of the traditional Labour Day workers’ rights demonstrations.
Most of the demonstrations passed off peacefully, police said.
But the mood darkened in the evening after police pulled far-left “black block” protesters out of the crowd for not adhering to pandemic hygiene regulations such as social distancing.
Along with thousands of others, they had been marching in the “Revolutionary May Day” demonstration to protest racism, capitalism and rising rents in the city.
Heavy scuffles ensued, with protesters throwing glass bottles and stones at police and Berlin police said around 20 officers were injured by the time the protest was broken up,
The German capital had deployed around 5,600 officers on Saturday to monitor the May Day protests, which have turned violent in the past.
Similar protests took place around the world, some of which also descended into skirmishes.
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