14 Jan 2021 | 02:41 PM UTC
Germany: Protesters to gather in Hamburg Jan. 17 to oppose official COVID-19 policies
Protest planned in Hamburg, Germany, Jan. 17 to denounce government handling of COVID-19 pandemic; disruptions likely, violence possible.
Event
Activists from several far-left wing organizations are planning to march in central Hamburg Jan. 17 to denounce the government’s response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Participants intend to gather outside the Rote Flora building in Sternschanze at 1100 before marching through the city center.
Current COVID-19 measures in Germany severely restrict public gatherings; police will likely attempt to disperse the protest if it is deemed to be breaching these restrictions and could arrest noncompliant participants. Activists seeking to circumvent security cordons could gather in other parts of the city. Clashes between police and protesters are possible; while bystanders are unlikely to be directly targeted in any violence, they would face an indirect threat of physical harm.
Advice
Avoid the protest as a routine security precaution and to mitigate associated disruptions. Heed instructions from security services and leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation. Check public transport schedules and local traffic conditions for disruptions, and allow extra time to complete journeys in central Hamburg Jan. 17.
