PRAGUE

Violence, tear gas and a water cannon. The anti-government demonstration eventually collapsed

Police detained over a hundred people in the Old Town Square, securing another 50 before the start of the protest because they were carrying a weapon and pyrotechnics. Twenty police officers were injured and some protesters were injured.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (YES) said he was shocked at how ruthless and selfish some citizens are. He spoke in favor of strict punishment for the perpetrators of the conflict. He also thanked the police and said he was proud of their highly professional approach. Also, according to Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (CSSD), the police intervened in a completely professional manner. President Milos Zeman condemned the protesters who did not comply with anti-virus measures during the demonstrations. Representatives of the opposition also criticized the participants in the demonstration.

Based on a resolution approved by the Babišova minority, an exception was applied in this case on the basis of the Act on the Right of Assembly to a limit of 500 persons, in an effort to reach a maximum of 20 participants. The protesters also had to maintain a distance of at least two meters and all had to have airways covered.

However, most of the public did not believe that these anti-epidemic rules would be followed. Although – many participants put on hoods and scarves or other camouflage instead of veils over their faces. That’s how they are used to football (or hockey) arenas. On the spot, the protesters first gathered in pre-defined areas. However, over time, the gaps between people completely disappeared, according to a reporter for the Prague daily, there were certainly more than five hundred participants.

“Neither covid nor Babiš”

The protest began in the Old Town Square at 2 p.m. The end was scheduled for 17:00. On the way to the scene, Pražský deník reporter met a group of young and middle-aged people in the subway, dressed all in black. One of them had a transparent one with the inscription “Neither covid nor Babiš”. In front of “Staromák” then the atmosphere began to thicken, Czech flags fluttered…

“Prymula is the Gestapo,” those present chanted, alluding to the Minister of Health. Vulgarities and racist shouts also fell. Part of the crowd also heard nationalist slogans such as “Bohemia to Bohemia” or “Nothing but the nation”. At the beginning, the national anthem was played.

Statement of the Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD)

“As there was a violation of the current government regulation at the place of attendance, the police warned the convener to call on the participants to comply with the conditions set,” the Prague Police Press Department wrote shortly before half past two. However, according to the police, the representative of the capital city council must decide to end the demonstration.

Radical participants attacked the police

After 3 pm, the convener officially ended the event. Although most of the participants in the demonstration demanded that they obey and leave the Old Town Square, some of the participants decided on this decision and the radical group immediately attacked the police.

The center of the capital was shrouded in smoke from smokestacks, firecrackers were pounding, paving stones, cans or bottles or baskets and other objects that were just at hand flew through the air.

Statement of the Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřiba (Pirates)

Sunday’s anti-government protest eventually turned into violent clashes (especially) of so-called ultras and hooligans from a number of supporters of football and hockey clubs with heavily-clad police. Police used “coercive means”, including tear gas and a water cannon. Dog handlers and members of the riding police went to the event on horseback. The crowd was pushed out by armored vehicles.

“The ambulance service provides first aid and treatment to injured police officers,” the Czech Police said via twitter. The Prague ambulance activated the trauma plan due to a larger number of injured. According to spokeswoman Jana Poštová, several rescue crews were on the scene, including a special Atego car: “We are intervening in about twenty people with injuries after the attack.” According to director Petr Kolouch, some of the injured were taken to hospital. A spokeswoman for Poštová later specified the numbers, stating that paramedics also dealt with drinking, intoxication, and to be prohibited from drinking alcohol in public in an emergency.

“Police officers in the Old Town Square carry out the identification of attackers and present them to police stations for further performance,” said spokesman Jan Daněk. The police weekly added that the area was closed and departure was possible only a few hours after the dramatic events on Celetná Street. The Paris was closed first by members of the security forces.

The demonstration organized by the civic association HON (Movement of Civil Dissatisfaction) had the subtitle “We want to find the truth together!”. The applicant was Ivan Sochor.

“We all know very well that not only the current viral epidemic, but also other viral and other diseases can be very dangerous. Therefore, every person’s life should have the same value. It is neither good nor sensible to delay the disease at the expense of another. And that, unfortunately, is happening in the current situation…, “the organizers said in a Facebook event, referring to the restrictive measures related to the new type of coronavirus.

However, this initiative was immediately joined by sports fans who were annoyed that they could not be in the stadium and that now all professional competitions (with a few exceptions, such as the European Football League or the WTA International Tennis Tournament in Ostrava) had stopped. The call to travel to the capital was formulated by the Hooligans from Bazaly, a supporter of Ostrava’s Baník.

Hamáček: They want to provoke violence

“Several hundred police officers from the law enforcement, criminal and traffic services will oversee security, public order and compliance with current regulations in the streets of Prague,” the Prague police said via a Twitter account below. Due to the fact that the regional directorate currently registers more than 100 positively tested for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and 135 police officers placed in quarantine, Prague police officers asked for help from colleagues from other regions.

Around 11 o’clock, the police reported that they were supervising the arrival of the participants in the demonstration at the main station. Police later said they had seized weapons and other dangerous items from participants in accordance with current legislation. Even before the start of the demonstration, a total of almost 50 people were arrested for this.

According to a Twitter statement, Police President Jan Švejdar is “terrified” that the lives and health of many other people will be endangered. In Sunday’s debate on the CNN Prima News program, Interior Minister Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) stated that the goal of the protesters is to fight the police. “They want to provoke violence. I would like to warn against that, “said Hamáček. According to the deputy prime minister, there are exactly one thousand police officers in the metropolis. For example, the police guarded the building of the Chamber of Deputies in Malá Strana and also closely guarded the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic at the Straka Academy. Hamáček’s words were finally confirmed due to unruly groups of protesters.

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