Right and Leftist protesters lock into clash in Germany

International Desk: Hundreds of police officers worked to keep right-wing and left-wing demonstrators apart Monday night in a city in eastern Germany where an Iraqi and a Syrian citizen were arrested in the killing of a German man.

About 1,000 left-wing protesters yelled slogans like “Nazis out” and “There’s no right to Nazi propaganda,” at a group of right-wing demonstrators about double in number. They retorted with “We are louder, we are more” and “Lying press.”

Officers in riot gear pushed people back as they tried to get at those on the other side. The demonstrators from the right hurled bottles and firecrackers at the rival camp before starting off on a march through Chemnitz. The police said the leftist protesters responded in kind.

The city’s police department reported on Twitter that several people were treated for injuries, but gave no details.

Both groups took to the streets of Chemnitz after a 35-year-old German man was injured during a clash after a street festival and died early Sunday.

Prosecutor Christine Muecke told reporters Monday the slaying stemmed from a verbal confrontation that escalated. Two men were taken into custody — a 22-year-old Syrian citizen and a 21 year-old Iraqi citizen— and both were held on suspicion of manslaughter, Muecke said.

She refused to provide more details about the suspects or the victim.

Hundreds of people also took part in spontaneous protests late Sunday in Chemnitz, a city where almost a quarter of the voters supported the far-right Alternative for Germany party last year. Videos posted on social media appeared to show far-right protesters threatening and chasing passers-by.

Source: Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/August 28, 2018/A K Azad