CRITICS OF COVID RESTRICTIONS PROTEST IN GERMAN CITIES

Thousands of opponents of measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic took to the streets of German cities on Saturday, with isolated violations of rules against gatherings, Annika von Greve-Dierfeld and Joerg Schurig reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

In Dresden, hundreds of supporters of the so-called Querdenken (Lateral Thinking) movement - made up of COVID-19 deniers, right-wing activists, and anti-vaccination campaigners - took to the streets despite a ban on the demonstration issued by a state court. Local police said four officers were injured during the protest.

Security forces also registered 32 criminal offenses committed during the march, including aggression and insult of police officers. Almost 400 formal complaints were filed for violating the coronavirus legislation in the state of Saxony and 49 people were ordered to leave the premises, police said.

Many participants were not wearing masks, which is currently mandatory to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Demonstrators chanted slogans including "The pandemic is over." Some 1,000 demonstrators gathered in front of the Health Ministry in Berlin.

According to the police, 50 people were stopped by security forces in relation to health and safety violations. Around a dozen counterdemonstrators were present, with some shouting "We'll vaccinate you all."

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