People protest COVID restrictions in Turku

About 150 people on Saturday gathered in Turku City and protested against the restrictive measures taken in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, said the police.

The protesters gathered at the Turku Cathedral Square and held a rally there following the instructions of maintaining safe distance.

They were divided into small groups of six people as per the regional restrictions imposed on the number of people of public gathering, said the police.

Some of the protesters who moved from Tuomiokirkkotori to Yliopistonkatu area, however, did not follow the safety instructions and the law-enforcing agency compelled them to leave the scene.

Two people were arrested at the spot for violating police order but they were released later, said the police.

“The gatherings against restrictions were observed peacefully at the Cathedral Square, and the event went smoothly,” said Southwest Finland Police Commissioner Reijo Pennanen.

Earlier, on March 20, about 300 people gathered at the Citizens’ Square in Helsinki, protesting against the restrictive measures taken in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Before that, on 14 February, people staged several demonstrations in the Helsinki city centre protesting against the coronavirus restrictions.