German police clash with far-right protesters
2,500 soccer fans rally under the banner 'Hooligans against Salafists' and hurl rocks, bottles, fireworks
BERLIN — German riot police Sunday clashed with far-right hooligans who rallied against Islamist extremism, with authorities using water cannon and tear gas against the rock-throwing protesters.
At least 2,500 hardline soccer fans from across Germany had massed under the banner “Hooligans against Salafists” in the western city of Cologne, drawing some 500 leftist and anti-fascist counter protesters.
Tensions escalated and right-wing protesters repeatedly yelled “Foreigners out!”, reported national news agency DPA and witnesses sending updates on Twitter.
Police in helmets and riot gear used batons, pepper spray and water cannon against the right-wing protesters who hurled rocks, bottles and fireworks at them.
Germany has seen a rise in nationalistic sentiment, as tensions between ethnic Germans and immigrant communities have raised the profile of previously underground far-right groups.
Earlier this month, Kurds in Germany clashed with radical Muslims in the northern city of Hamburg and elsewhere, in street clashes fueled by the conflict involving the Islamic State in northern Iraq and Syria.
Justin Jalil contributed to this report.