EBN- This year, the German capital, Berlin, witnessed violent clashes again between police and demonstrators during a march to commemorate the communist leaders Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.
According to the police’s post on the X platform, more than 20 people have been arrested so far and 10 investigations have been opened. The police added that 17 police officers are injured during the violent clashes according to current information.
Police used tear gas, and videos showed security forces forcibly pushing protesters back, and throwing some to the ground.
“There were attacks on the emergency services,” a police spokeswoman said, adding that fireworks were set off and bottles were thrown. Police wrote on the X platform that the emergency services were also attacked with flag poles. The march was stopped at the time.
There were also disturbances at last year’s anniversary event. Police said 21 officers were injured and 16 protesters were arrested, with protesters attacking police with wooden planks and metal bars.
Today’s demonstration started at the Frankfurter Tor gate, with 10,000 people expected to take part, while police estimated the number of participants at around 3,000 by 11:30 a.m. local time. The tense atmosphere partially calmed down later in the march.
This event is held annually in Berlin to commemorate the assassination of communist leaders Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg on January 15, 1919.
In early January of that year, the Revolutionary Committee, led by Liebknecht, one of the founders of the Communist Party, announced the dismissal of the government of the Social Democrat Friedrich Ebert, which led to the outbreak of mass demonstrations.
The rebellion against Ebert’s government was called the “Spartacus Uprising”, but this uprising was violently suppressed and ended with the murder of Liebknecht and Luxemburg.
