The Zurich city police take stock: “There were several unauthorized demonstrations in the city of Zurich. The Zurich city police stopped them and prevented demonstrators from the left-wing autonomous scene from meeting with opponents of the Corona measures,” the police wrote in a statement.
Irritant, rubber shot and also water cannon had to be used. Several dozen people were arrested, including people from the right-wing extremist scene. The Zurich cantonal police ensured security in the main station.
“Zurich Nazi-free – prevent right-wing march” Leftists called for a counter-reaction
Critics of the measures announced a demonstration against the Corona measures on social media for Saturday afternoon. As a counter-reaction, a demonstration was called throughout Switzerland entitled “Zürich Nazifrei – prevent right-wing marches”. For both demonstrations, no application for a permit was submitted in advance, writes the Zurich city police.
1000 people gathered at the State Museum
Around 2 p.m., several hundred people who can be assigned to the left-wing scene gathered in front of the main station at the station square. At the same time, around 1000 people from the same scene gathered at the State Museum. As a result, those at the State Museum formed a demonstration march to march via Neumühlequai in the direction of Bellevue, where there was a call from the opponents of the Corona measures. As a result, the city police prevented the demo train from entering the city center, the statement said.
Shortly before 2.30 p.m., 31 people who were obviously ready to use violence and who could be assigned to the right-wing extremist scene or the opponents of the measures were stopped by the Zurich city police in Niederdorf and taken to a police station for further clarification.
Police used tear gas and rubber bullets
The demo train stopped by the city police at Neumühlequai regrouped in the meantime, turned around and marched in the direction of District 5. In the area of the Langstrasse underpass, attempts were made to break through police barriers and barricades were also erected. The Zurich city police used rubber shot and irritants to calm the situation. Finally, the demonstrators went to District 4.
Police used water cannons
The several hundred demo participants who had gathered stationary at the main station formed around 3 p.m. and marched towards Löwenplatz. Some of the demonstrators tried to get to Bellevue and Sechseläutenplatz via Bahnhofstrasse. As a result, the city police had to use resources on Limmatquai, among other things, to stop the people and to prevent them from meeting with opponents of the Corona measures. The demonstration participants then rioted on the Limmatquai. With the help of a water cannon, they were pushed back in the direction of Central and the main station. Finally, around 4 p.m., the demonstrators gathered at Helvetiaplatz and remained stationary there.
After 5 p.m. the situation calmed down
At the same time, the city police prevented several dozen corona measures opponents from demonstrating from Limmatquai in the direction of the main station. They were stopped, checked, turned away and then reported.
Shortly after 5 p.m., the situation in district 4 finally calmed down, and there was a large exodus.
According to current knowledge, the Zurich city police arrested several dozen people. In addition, the city and canton police issued well over 100 evictions.