10 police officers injured as riots mar Eritreans meeting in southern Germany

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) – At least 10 police officers were injured when they attempted to stop riots during a meeting of Eritreans in the southern German city of Stuttgart on Saturday, as supporters and opponents of the Eritrean government clashed, according to a police spokesman.

Timo Brenner said in a video message posted on the website of the daily Stuttgarter Zeitung that up to 200 Eritrean participants in the event first attacked each other, and when police tried to stop them, they attacked law enforcement with stones, bottles, and wooden slats.

Ten officers were injured, and four people have been arrested so far, he added.

Around 200 people gathered for an event organized by the Federation of Eritrean Clubs in Stuttgart and the surrounding area, the spokesman said, adding that the clubs sympathize with the government in Eritrea.

He pointed out police used batons and pepper spray on the attackers.

"There are still skirmishes," Brenner said of the riots.

Additional police forces were dispatched from surrounding police stations and flown in by helicopter, he added.

In July, the western German city of Giessen became the scene of violent clashes between rival Eritrean political groups.

At least 22 police officers were injured and dozens of people were detained during the unrest at an Eritrean cultural event.

Police said bottles were thrown and smoke bombs were set off as groups of Eritreans opposed to the African nation’s autocratic ruler tried to force their way into the venue.

The German government condemned the clashes with police at that time, saying “Eritrean conflicts must not play out on German soil.”