In downtown Vienna, more than 40,000 people protested against the corona measures taken by the Austrian government. The mood was partly heated. It is the third weekend of protest in a row.

In Vienna tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the currently applicable partial lockdown and the announced compulsory corona vaccination. Several demonstrations took place in the Austrian capital, and according to the police, more than 40,000 people took part.

On the fringes of the protests, there were isolated clashes between demonstrators and police forces.

Around 1200 police officers were on duty at the demonstrations. Participants threw pyrotechnics, the forces used tear gas, the police said. Around 1500 people gathered for counter-demonstrations. Five people were arrested and two officers were injured in clashes, reports the ORF, citing police information.

Third protest weekend in a row

Due to the dramatic increase in the number of infections in Austria since November 22nd, a partial lockdown that should last until December 11th. The schools in the country are still open. From February 1st, a general vaccination against the coronavirus will also apply in Austria.

Since the lockdown began, the number of new infections every day has fallen from around 13,000 to less than 10,000. Regardless of this, the measures are controversial. According to the Austrian media, many families with children also traveled to the demonstrations in Vienna. It was the third weekend in a row with mass protests against the corona rules.