Emeute à Varsovie – 12 novembre 2011

Violent youth clash with police in Warsaw

chron.com

VANESSA GERA, Associated Press

Friday, November 11, 2011

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Violent clashes erupted in Warsaw on Friday as right-wing extremists, football hooligans and anarchists attacked police with cobblestones and glass bottles during marches commemorating the country’s Independence Day.

Marches by far-right and nationalist groups on the key national holiday have grown in size in recent years, with a growing number of left-wing activists also turning out to oppose them.

This year the marches were seen as a major test of the country’s security capabilities before the Euro 2012 football championship, which Poland will co-host with Ukraine next summer.

National police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said a police plan to keep hostile marches from one another was successful, but that « thugs and hooligans joined the marches to target police. »

At least 21 people were taken to hospitals with injuries following the clashes, which were some of the most violent Poland has seen in years. Several police officers were also injured.

Dressed in black, and with scarves hiding their faces, young people threw bottles, firecrackers and stones at riot police in downtown Warsaw, where groups of rightist and leftist activists were holding separate marches.

Some masked people set fire to two news transmission vans belonging to Polish TV broadcasters.

Police brought in reinforcements from eight other Polish cities and their presence was highly visible. Some patrolled on horseback while many others surrounded protesters carrying truncheons and wearing riot gear.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed to make sure those arrested for attacking police are severely punished, his spokesman Pawel Gras said.

The most violent clashes Friday appeared to be the work of far-right protesters and football hooligans. Police said the situation was brought under control after they used water cannons and pepper gas.

Earlier in the day, a separate group attacked police and dozens were detained. Many among them were anarchists from Germany, police spokesman Maciej Karczynski said.

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