Thousands of people took to the streets across Germany on yesterday evening to protest against restrictive measures taken by the authorities to fight the pandemic, reports Deutsche Welle.

The police intervened mainly only when protesters attempted to march in violation of anti-pandemic bans, failed to observe distancing standards, or were not wearing protective masks.

Clashes with law enforcement officers reached to Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt), Rostock (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) and Lichtenstein (Saxony).

In Magdeburg, according to the police, 2,500 people joined the protests. Some protesters tried to break through the roadblocks, made pyrotechnics and one protester threw a bottle at police officers. Nine suspects have been charged with causing bodily harm, disruption of public order and resisting law enforcement officers. One protester was preliminarily detained after attacking a police officer.

Up to 4,000 people took to the streets in Rostock. In a number of cases police used batons. Right-wing radicals and aggressive football fans were seen among the protesters, according to law enforcement officials.

In Lichtenstein, up to 200 people tried to organize a march. The police were able to separate out up to 60 people who were ready to use violence, their identities are being established. Part of the demonstrators repeatedly tried to break through the barricades and attacked police officers. The protesters also sprayed an irritant substance.

One of the protesters tried to seize a service weapon from a police officer, while another police officer reported being injured as a result of being bitten by the attacker. About 14 police officers were injured. The police used pepper spray and charges were filed for aggression against a law enforcement officer and causing bodily harm.

There were held mass protests in Thuringia and Bavaria.

The restrictions were tightened on 27 December 2021 in several German federal states at once. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, for example, cinemas, theatres, museums, inside zoos, swimming pools and other leisure facilities were closed. In Brandenburg, those vaccinated against the coronavirus and those who have recovered from COVID-19 are allowed to meet privately in groups of no more than 10 people until at least 11 January.