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Police use water cannon as German lockdown protest turns violent

Police use water cannon as German lockdown protest turns violent

Sunday, March 21, 2021, 12:01 GMT+7
Police use water cannon as German lockdown protest turns violent
Police officers remove demonstrators from a square during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

KASSEL, Germany -- Police deployed water cannon and pepper spray after a gathering of some 20,000 protesters against lockdown and other coronavirus rules in central Germany turned violent, with some demonstrators throwing bottles at police.

Protesters from all over Germany converged on the central city of Kassel for the march, which was organised by the “Querdenker” - “Lateral Thinkers” - online conspiracy movement.

“Bottles were thrown and there were attempts to break through barriers,” police said on Twitter.

A model of the coronavirus is seen attached to a sign during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

A model of the coronavirus is seen attached to a sign during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Police said protesters disobeyed instructions they gave to help ensure people’s safety, including by refusing to wear face masks and observe social distancing guidelines.

Protesters carried placards reading “No compulsory vaccination” and “Democracy will not tolerate censorship”.

Marchers faced counter-protesters wearing face masks, one of whom held up a placard reading “Vaccinated”.

Police officers remove demonstrators from a square during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Police officers remove demonstrators from a square during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

With Germany in its fourth month of lockdown and vaccination efforts lagging compared to Britain and the United States, many people, from shopkeepers to would-be holidaymakers, are increasingly restive at the lack of a clear path to a return to normal life.

National and regional leaders are due to consult on Monday over the next steps in the national lockdown. But with case numbers rising sharply thanks to the spread of more infectious variants, many politicians are saying it is too early to ease restrictions.

Demonstrators attend a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Demonstrators attend a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Demonstrators attend a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Demonstrators attend a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Reuters

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