26 police officers injured during unrest at Germany’s Eritrean festival
At least 26 police officers were injured in an effort to quell the protest organised against Giessen Eritrea festival in Germany.
Germany: At least 26 police officers were injured in an effort to quell the protest organised against Giessen Eritrea festival in Germany. The protesters were angry that the festival went ahead in Giessen which they called a propaganda exercise by the Eritrean regime.
Hundreds of German police used batons and pepper spray to quell crowds targeting an Eritrean cultural festival in the central town of Giessen located roughly 50 kilometer north of Frankfurt and Main.
A police statement said clashes took place for hours on Saturday, wherein 26 police officers were injured. Protesters threw bottles and stones at police, damaged some vehicles and ripped down fencing around the festival venue.
They also threw stones at buses carrying participants to the festival, the statement said. Police arrested nearly 100 people and had to stop traffic in the town centre.
The festival was organised by the Central Council for Eritreans in Germany. In recent years, Germany has granted asylum to many Eritreans which form one of the largest groups of African migrants seeking to settle in the European Union.
Ms Kalinga