More than 2,000 police were deployed to disperse the demonstrators, according to the police department, which indicated that they had been “harassed and assaulted”, and responded with sticks and irritating gases.
Germany eased many restrictions in May, allowing restaurants and bars to reopen, but many activities, such as indoor dining and hotel stays, require a full vaccination certificate or a recent negative test for the new coronavirus.
Querdenker, the country’s largest and most prominent anti-lockdown movement, has drawn thousands of people to its demonstrations, gathering eclectic groups with those opposed to vaccination, from left to right, virus deniers, conspirators and right-wing extremists.
Earlier this year, German security intelligence services warned that the movement was becoming increasingly radical, and that some of its elements were under surveillance.
Today’s protest comes after other demonstrations against the restrictions imposed to combat the epidemic in several European countries, especially in France, which also led to clashes with the police, and more than 80,000 people demonstrated in cities in Italy, at the end of last week.
The COVID-19 pandemic has killed at least 4,228,816 people worldwide, among more than 197.8 million cases of the novel coronavirus, according to the latest report by Agence France-Presse, released on Sunday.
In Portugal, since the beginning of the epidemic, in March 2020, 17,369 people died and 970,937 cases of infection were recorded, according to the Directorate General of Health.
William Shakespeare is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, history, and current affairs. With a keen eye for storytelling and analysis, he produces informative articles that help readers understand the people, ideas, and events influencing modern life.
