The Eritrean cultural festival in the town of Giessen, Germany, turned violent as at least 22 police officers were injured during the unrest on July 8, CNN reports. The local police in the state of Hessen reported massive attacks on the officers, including the throwing of stones, bottles, and setting off of smoke bombs by demonstrators.
The unrest was centred around attempts by some individuals to break through police barriers and gain access to the event site. Police were forced to use pepper spray and batons in response.
The festival has been a subject of controversy in the past, with organisers believed to have close ties to the Eritrean regime. Similar unrest occurred during the previous year's event due to allegations of mistreatment by the current regime, prompting thousands of Eritreans to seek refuge in Europe. The city of Giessen attempted to block this year's festival, but the ban was overturned by a local court, leading to the continuation of the event.
Hessen police deployed around 1,000 officers from various units to maintain order, but the situation remained ongoing. The exact number of injured or detained individuals was not immediately available. However, prior to the festival, approximately 60 people had been detained under suspicion of planning an attack during the event.
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