Hamburg anti-conscription demo ends in burning barricades and 120 detentions

A protest that turned into a night of clashes

About 6,700 people took part on Saturday, 31 October, in the demonstration 'Gegen Wehrpflicht - Gen Z regelt!' in Hamburg, organised by the Gen Z regelt initiative against compulsory military service. Police deployed around 1,300 officers. The protest was largely peaceful at first, but at about 17:00 police announced through a loudspeaker that the demonstration was over. The situation then escalated around the Steindamm near the main railway station and in the St. Georg district. People dressed in black, some with their faces covered, set off fireworks and set construction barriers and rubbish bins alight. Groups played a cat-and-mouse game with police around the ZOB central bus station, throwing bottles, fireworks and, at times, paving stones at officers. Protesters chanted pro-Palestinian slogans, and onlookers booed officers and shouted insults.

Police response and injuries

Officers used pepper spray and water cannon. The water cannon was first used only to extinguish burning barricades, and later to disperse crowds of sometimes several hundred people after repeated firework attacks on officers. A New Year's firework battery that unknown people had lit on the street fell over and hit a child and a female police officer. Police said it had been mishandled. The child suffered shock but did not need hospital treatment, while the officer's injuries were initially unclear. A federal police officer near the main station was also hurt by a firework. According to police as of Sunday morning, 11 officers were injured over the course of the day.

Fires and damage across the city

The disorder was not confined to the protest route. Groups of young people set off fireworks across the city throughout Halloween night. Several cars and paper containers burned in Hammerbrook and Billstedt in the east of Hamburg, and fire caused damage to property in other places as well. Police checked groups in several districts, issued orders to leave and bans on entering areas, and seized pyrotechnic items.

Arrests and political reaction

Police took about 120 people into custody overnight. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt rated the police operation positively and said the concept of massive presence and decentralised deployment had worked. Speaking to Bild, he said:

“Violence like in Paris was prevented thanks to our highly committed police forces.”

He blamed violent left-wing groups and troublemakers from the migrant milieu for hijacking the afternoon's peaceful demonstrations. He said rioters and looters would be identified and held to account, and that harsh penalties must follow for the breach of the peace.

Demonstrators6,700

Police deployed1,300

Detained overnight120

Officers injured11

Demonstrators

6700

Police deployed

1300

Detained overnight

120

Officers injured

11

Data from the article text