Coronavirus latest: Berlin police disperse ‘anti-corona’ protesters; South Korea running out of hospital beds
- After a long negotiations with organisers, the force said they would break up the gathering, which had attracted 18,000 people
- UK faces ‘extensive local lockdowns’ in the event of winter virus wave; India records over 76,000 cases
“Unfortunately we have no other option: We approached the leader of the demonstration and informed him that his meeting would be dissolved by the police,” they wrote on Twitter.
Police said people at the rally were not maintaining a safe distance from each other, and most participants were not wearing face masks.
After a long wait and negotiations with organisers, police said they would break up the gathering, which had attracted 18,000 people, according to their estimates. “All previous measures have not led to compliance with the requirements,” according to police.
Some 3,000 police officers were on duty to monitor what was supposed to be a long march and rally organised by Querdenken 711 (Lateral Thinking 711), for which 22,000 people had registered.
Participants held posters that read “Stop the coronavirus madness” and “End the coronavirus dictatorship” and carried banners calling for the government to resign and demanding an end to virus restrictions.
