National

ETV Bharat / international

Berlin police forcefully disperse virus protesters

Thousands of people protesting German measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus rallied Wednesday outside barricades cordoning off Berlin's government centre as lawmakers debated a bill that would strengthen officials' ability to impose restrictions.

Berlin police forcefully disperse virus protesters
Berlin police forcefully disperse virus protesters

By

Published : Nov 18, 2020, 6:28 PM IST

Berlin:German police fired water cannons at demonstrators in downtown Berlin protesting coronavirus restrictions after saying that the crowd refused to listen to their entreaties to wear masks and keep their distance from one another in line with regulations.

Read:|Pro-democracy protest grows outside Thailand parliament

As the cannons shot into the crowd outside the landmark Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday, police in riot gear moved through the crowd carrying away some protesters.

Berlin police forcefully disperse virus protesters

Some demonstrators threw fireworks and flares in response.

The protests came as German lawmakers opened debate on a bill that will provide the legal underpinning for the government to issue social distancing rules, require masks in public and close stores and other venues to slow the spread of the virus. While such measures are supported by most people in Germany, a vocal minority has staged regular rallies around the country arguing that the restrictions are unconstitutional.

The measures are expected to pass both the lower and then upper house of parliament and be quickly signed by Germany’s president.

AP

Read:|Mass rally held against France & Macron in Islamabad

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

...view details