Smeared facades, smashed shop windows, burning containers. In Zurich, left-wing demonstrators caused major material damage on Saturday evening. Outraged by the evacuation of the Koch area, which had been occupied for ten years, hundreds of people marched through the city. Banners read ‘Housing for everyone is looking for gits riot’ or ‘Replacing houses, bonze schletze’.
According to police, the demonstration grew to more than 1,000 people, including numerous violent hooded people. The emergency services were partly pelted with stones, according to the police. Four people were arrested.
There was a lack of police officers
Zurich authorities were surprised by the violent nature of some protesters, as they themselves admitted. Because the unauthorized demonstration was initially peaceful, the move was allowed to go ahead, a spokesman for the city police told the “NZZ”. The focus was on blocking roads to prevent the demonstrators from moving further into the city center.
In addition, the police justified the reluctance with the fact that they did not have enough staff. Simultaneously with the demo, an ice hockey game took place, before and after that the police were on duty – and on Sunday there was a football derby in the city. “As a result, we simply did not have more emergency services available that could have intervened. In addition, we currently have a tense personnel situation and our emergency services are working at full capacity,” the police told the “Tages-Anzeiger”.
Houses of councilors defaced
Left-wing extremists had already given a preview of the demonstration last week. Strangers smeared the houses where the green Zurich city councilors Karin Rykart (51) and Daniel Leupi (57) live. Rykart is the city’s director of security, while Leupi is the city’s financial director.
“If you tear down ours, we’ll meet again in yours!” was sprayed on a wall. Also the date of the demo. In addition, the left-wing extremist activists published the politicians’ private addresses on a platform. The two did not want to comment on the incident at Blick’s request.
“Where is the left-wing city council?”
The merchants affected by the destructive fury of the demonstrators are very angry about the passive behavior of the police. The demonstrators had called for crimes and agitated against owners, Stefan Brupbacher, director of the Swiss mechanical, electrical and metal industry association Swissmem, said on Twitter. Where is the left city council and alderman Rykart in the fight against the chaos? Unbearable!”
As Blick knows, the security director is meeting with the police today to discuss the operation. There’s a lot to talk about. (lha)
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
