Radical leftist militants riot in east Germany

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - Radical leftist militants clashed Saturday with baton-wielding riot police in the eastern German city of Leipzig, according to police.

“Our forces are repeatedly attacked and thrown at with stones/pyrotechnics," police tweeted.

Riots overshadowed a radical leftist demonstration in Leipzig as 1,000 people gathered for the demonstration. There were reportedly firecrackers, stones, bottles and incendiary devices thrown at police officers.

Police were on site with a large contingent, and a police helicopter was circling above the square. Police initially did not let participants go further and demanded that masks be removed.

Twenty-three officers were injured in riots surrounding "Day X" demonstrations in Leipzig, according to authorities.

Nationwide, left-wing circles had been mobilized for solidarity demonstrations in Leipzig to protest the verdict against Lina E. and three co-defendants for attacks on alleged or actual neo-Nazis, in which several people were injured, some seriously.

The city was also the scene of violent clashes between police and left-wing radicals late Friday.

After an initial peaceful meeting in the Connewitz district, the situation escalated as several hundred hooded people attacked police with stones and pyrotechnics, and the officers used tear gas and water cannons. The demonstrators erected burning barricades on some streets.