Violence during a Berlin march for communist icons led to 31 arrests and injuries among police officers
Berlin: Over the weekend, things got pretty chaotic during the annual march honoring Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. Police ended up arresting 31 people after violence broke out.
In the fray, 24 officers were hurt, but most were able to keep working. A total of 34 charges were filed, including some serious ones like assaulting police and using banned symbols.
With around 550 officers on duty, the situation escalated quickly. Demonstrators lit flares and clashed with police, who had to use mace and batons to control the crowd.
Things got even more heated when some protesters shouted banned slogans related to the Middle East. One person even fainted during the scuffle and was later found to be wanted by the police.
While police estimated several thousand people attended, only 10,000 had registered for the event. Last year’s demonstration also saw violence.
At a separate memorial at Friedrichsfelde Central Cemetery, two men were detained for spitting on a memorial stone for Stalinism victims. Luxemburg and Liebknecht, who were killed in 1919, are viewed as martyrs by many on the left.
For years, people have gathered to honor these leaders with wreaths and red carnations every January. The march is a significant event for those who remember their contributions.
