Austrians and neo-Nazis march in Vienna, defying ban to protest coronavirus restrictions
- Police arrested around 10 protesters and four officers were injured during scuffles
- Many who took part in the march ignored government regulations on mask wearing and social-distancing measures
Thousands of people, including some neo-Nazis, defied a ban to march on Sunday in Vienna in protest against the curfew and lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
Police had on Saturday announced a ban on the march after around 10,000 turned up for a similar such protest earlier in the month, many of them ignoring the safety restrictions designed to slow the spread of the virus.
Many of those who took part in Sunday’s march, which was organised by the far-right FPOe party (Freedom Party of Austria), followed suit, ignoring government regulations on mask wearing and social-distancing measures.
neo-Nazi activists were among the crowd, which refused to disband and blocked traffic as it began to march towards the national parliament.
Police arrested around 10 protesters and four officers were injured during scuffles.
It was the first time that the FPOe, and member Herbert Kickl who is a former interior minister, officially called for a protest against the third Austrian lockdown.