Visitors and helpers at a controversial Eritrean cultural event in Gießen were attacked and injured by around 100 people on Saturday evening. The attackers climbed over barriers and suddenly attacked people with batons, iron bars, knives and stones, the police said on Monday. The number of people involved was previously unclear.
The alleged perpetrators were apparently participants in a meeting that was directed against the event. The police initially did not provide any further information on the identity of the attackers.
26 helpers of the Eritrean event were injured. Seven police officers also suffered minor injuries.
There is much to suggest that these were planned actions, it said. A working group of state security is now investigating the suspicion of bodily harm and dangerous bodily harm, property damage and serious breach of the peace.
