14 Cops injured during German Covid-19 protests

Protesters clashed with police at demonstrations against regulations to curb the spread of Covid-19 in several German cities during the weekend, reported dpa.

According to police reports, 14 officers were injured during protests against coronavirus policies in central Germany.

Following calls on social media, up to 1,000 people had gathered in the town of Greiz in the state of Thuringia on Saturday, the police said on Sunday.

They formed a procession at a bridge in the town, which was stopped by the police. Protesters tried to break through the police cordon.

The police, who were deployed with a large number of officers and also had a water cannon at the ready, then used pepper spray.

In video sequences circulated on Twitter, protesters could be seen wrestling with the police in an attempt to break through the cordon.

A photographer from dpa reported an aggressive atmosphere.

Firecrackers were set off and a police officer was hit in the foot with a bottle. A Thermos flask was also thrown towards the police.

Two of the injured police officers were temporarily unfit for duty, the police said. One injured officer was temporarily treated in hospital.

The police identified 207 protesters, issued 108 orders to leave the area and initiated 44 criminal proceedings. In addition, 47 proceedings for administrative offences were under way.

Hundreds of people also protested against the health measures in the south-western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg on Saturday, also defying local health rules.

Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police officers in the city of Reutlingen, where 1,500 people had joined a rally held in the name of "freedom, truth and self-determination," police said.

The protesters ignored police instructions that they should wear protective face masks, so the officers broke up the rally. However, some attendees continued to march, and a handful set off flares and fireworks.

As police sought to stop the march, protesters forcefully broke through the line of officers, who responded with pepper spray and batons.

Police initiated criminal proceedings in several cases and ordered 100 people to leave the area.

In state capital Stuttgart, many people also broke the health regulations during four protests against the measures on Saturday.

Police said several hundred protesters had assembled and formed a human chain in the city. The police are now investigating 12 people, they said on Sunday.

There were also some 2,500 protesters in Freiburg, also in Baden-Wuerttemberg, on Saturday, police said, adding that there were several violations of the right of assembly and problems with implementing the requirement that people wear masks.

Two participants claimed they had medical certificates proving they were exempt from the requirement, but refused to show these.

Meanwhile some 50 people joined a counter-demonstration.