German leaders slam far-right’s attempt to storm the Reichstag
Senior German officials have condemned attempts by farright protesters and others to storm the parliament building following a protest against the country’ s pandemic restrictions.
Hundreds of people, some waving the flag of the German Reich of 1871-1918 and other far-right banners, breached a security barrier outside the Reichstag late on Saturday but were intercepted by police and forcibly removed.
“Reich flags and right-wing extremist provocations in front of the German Bunde stag are an unbearable attack on the heart of our democracy,” Germany’s president, Frank-walter Steinmeier, said.
“We will never accept this.” Some 38,000 turned out for the wider, largely peaceful Berlin demonstration. The protest had originally been banned but a court eventually allowed it to go ahead on condition that coronavirus measures such as mask-wearing and social-distancing were adhered to.
Stein mers aid people had the right to express their anger about the coronavirus restrictions and to question them publicly, including with demonstrations.
“My sympathy ends where protesters allow themselves to be used by enemies of democracy and political agitators,” he added.
Police used pepper spray to drive back the protesters, who earlier in the day had participated in a large rally through the capital.
About 300 people were arrested in front of the Reichs tag and following an incident at the Russian embassy, according to police.
Berlin’s top security official, Andreas Geisel, praised three officers who had stood alone against the pro testers outside the Reich stag until reinforcements arrived. Op posit ion parties criticised the police’s failure to station sufficient officers around parliament despite public warnings from far-right extremists that they planned to try to enter the building.
Police rejected criticism of their small deployment however, saying they could not “be everywhere all the time”.
Robert Habeck, the co-leader of Germany’s Green party, called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
“The fact that Nazis with imperial war flags try to storm the Bundestag recalls the darkest period in German history,” he told the Funke media group.
“An incident like on Saturday evening must not be allowed to happen again ,” Ha beck said. “I expect (federal) interior minister Horst Seehofer to decisively combat right-wing extremism at all levels.”
Opinion polls show overwhelming support for the prevention measures imposed by German authorities, such as the requirement to wear masks on public transport, in stores and in schools.