Coronavirus: Police break up German protests against restrictions

Thousands had gathered in Berlin on Saturday after a court ruled they could protest

People attend a rally in Berlinagainst the German government's coronavirus restrictions, on August 29, 2020. Reuters

Police have disbanded protests over coronavirus restrictions in Berlin after thousands of people failed to wear masks.

Up to 18,000 people had gathered on Saturday to demonstrate after a regional court in Germany overturned a decision to ban the protest.

It had initially been banned after demonstrators failed to wear masks.

But just two hours into the rally police were forced to step in due to protesters flouting coronavirus restrictions by not adhering to social distancing and failing to wear masks.

"Unfortunately, we have no other option," Berlin police said on Twitter. "All the measures taken so far have not led to compliance with the conditions."

A police spokesman said the protesters were dispersing peacefully, however, there were reports of some people blocking roads and bottles being thrown.

Police had already deployed more than 3,000 officers over fear of violence as activists opposed to the virus measures urged social media followers across Europe to arm themselves and gather in Berlin.

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Coronavirus around the world

Bikers wearing protective masks ride past Notre Dame Cathedral, as France reinforces mask-wearing as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of Covid-19 across the country, in Paris, France August 28, 2020. Reuters

A man with a beak mask holds a camera at a rally against coronavirus measures on Thursday, August 27, 2020. The rally was a prelude to a demonstration expected on Saturday. Police in Berlin have requested thousands of reinforcements from other parts of Germany to cope with planned protests at the weekend by people opposed to coronavirus restrictions. dpa via AP

People wearing face masks in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. EPA

A health worker takes a nasal swab sample to test for Covid-19 in Hyderabad, India. India has the third-highest coronavirus caseload after the United States and Brazil, and the fourth-highest death toll in the world. AP

A worker pushes a cart with carnations to be shipped to US and Europe at the Flowers of Serruzuela company in Madrid, Colombia. AP Photo

Musician Doreen Ketchens plays her clarinet at the corner of St. Peter and Royal streets in the French Quarter of New Orleans. AP Photo

People wait to give their nasal swab samples to test for Covid-19 in Hyderabad, India. AP Photo

Thousands of employees of Freeport gold mine block a road at Tembagapura district in Mimika, Indonesia. More than 1,000 workers blocked access to the world's biggest gold mine in protest at a company move to shut down visits to their families over virus concerns. AFP

Spanish film director David Trueba (2-L), Spanish actors Vito Sanz (L) and Anna Alarcon (2-R), and Guinean actor Zidane Barry (R) pose during the presentation of the movie 'A este lado del mundo' (lit. this side of the world) at the Official Category of the 23rd edition of Malaga Film Festival, in Malaga, Spain. EPA

A city worker draws a mural campaigning against the Covid-19 on a wall in Jakarta. Indonesia had reported over 150,000 coronavirus cases and 6,858 deaths, but with some of the world's lowest testing rates the true scale is widely believed to be much greater. AFP

A man rests his mask on his chin and folds a cloth for sale in Gauhati, India. AP Photo

People walk through the Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul. South Korea's central bank slashed its growth forecast predicting the world's 12th-largest economy will shrink more than one percent this year as it braces for a surge of coronavirus infections. AFP

A sign advising on Covid-19 and law enforcement is seen as Hurricane Laura approaches Abbeville, Louisiana, US. Reuters

The World Health Organisation regional office for the Americas in Washington, DC, US. Bloomberg

People protected with face masks walk in the southern area of Sao Paulo, Brazil. EPA

Patients sit in the waiting hall at Thailand's first official medical cannabis clinic at the Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department inside the Public Health Ministry building on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand. EPA

People wade through a flooded road after the monsoon rain, as the outbreak of Covid-19 continues, in Karachi, Pakistan. Reuters

Sri Lankan health workers carry out Covid-19 swab tests at a public market in Colombo, Sri Lanka. EPA

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Activists, angered by Berlin's decision to ban protests after demonstrators at a recent rally failed to wear masks or remain a safe distance apart, had flooded the city with thousands of applications for additional protest rallies this weekend.

"The gatherings planned by several initiatives for August 29 against the corona policy of the federal and state governments can take place," the court ruled.

Responding to the ruling, Berlin's interior minister, Andreas Geisel, said the court had given protesters a second chance to show they can comply with social distancing measures.

"I appeal to everyone to gather in Berlin without violence," he said.

Querdenken 711, one of the movements behind the protests, had urged demonstrators in a YouTube video to "be peaceful and exercise no violence toward the police".

Until now Germany has managed the coronavirus crisis better than many of its European counterparts, with rigorous testing helping to hold down infections and deaths.

But new daily infections have accelerated in recent weeks.

On Friday, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to keep up their guard against the virus.

"This is a serious matter, as serious as it's ever been, and you need to carry on taking it seriously," she said.

Protesters had gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin with signs reading "Stop the corona lies" and "Merkel must go".

Anti-mask protesters had also gathered in Zurich on Saturday.

In London, more than a 1,000 protesters gathered at Trafalgar Square, many holding home-made banners.

One called for an "End to medical tyranny"; another read "No to mandatory vaccines" while one man waved a placard declaring "Masks are muzzles".

In Paris, more than 300 people protested peacefully against the government's decision to make masks obligatory in all public places as cases rise in the French capital.

Protesters, some waving placards stating "Stop the lies", were quickly surrounded by police who handed out fines to those not wearing masks.