Around 2,300 participants gathered in the town square on Sunday evening to demonstrate against the government’s corona policy. The meeting was not registered, the police said. After the demonstration had set off in the direction of Grünmarkt at around 6:15 p.m., the police began to check the FFP2 mask requirement. One participant punched a police officer and fled into the crowd.
At the end of the walk, a good 100 people celebrated until around 8:45 p.m. with loud music in the town square. In the small group, the officers recognized the rabid demonstration participant and wanted to check him again. The 42-year-old from Steyr then suddenly punched a police officer in the face.
Forbidden weapon found
Six colleagues tried to continue the check, while the man resisted with all his might. He kicked his hands and feet so intensely that hand and ankle cuffs had to be put on him. He also verbally abused the officers. Three police officers were injured in the act.
Video: State Police Director Andreas Pilsl on the demonstrators’ increasing potential for aggression
When searching his clothes, the officers also found a telescopic baton, which is one of the forbidden weapons in the sense of the Weapons Act. The 42-year-old was taken to the police detention center, the state police department announced on Monday evening. It was only on New Year’s Eve – as reported – that a police officer was injured so badly in the head during a demonstration in downtown Linz that he had to be treated in a hospital.
Source: Nachrichten
