Finnish police banned the “Helsinki without Nazis” demonstration on Independence Day and forcibly dispersed the participants. The reason was to avoid an ideological clash with the far-right torchlight procession that started from the same place.
Around 4pm the police wrote on the social platform X that they had arrested 14 people for conduct disorder, reports Helsingin Sanomat.
“Among other things, objects suitable for injuring another person were found in the hands of the detainees,” the police said.
At four in the evening the “Helsinki without Nazis” demonstration was supposed to take place in the center of Töölöntor square. According to Finnish Police Commissioner Patrik Karlsson, shortly after four o’clock a group of police officers were waiting for them in the square. Procession 612, considered far-right, was also supposed to leave from Töölöntor square at six in the evening.
The police sensed the possibility of a clash and banned the “Helsinki without Nazis” rally. Karlsson said the “Nazi-free Helsinki” protesters had been in contact for several days. They were offered another place to hold a demonstration, but no agreement was reached.
By half past five, the police had already asked the demonstrators several times to leave Töölöntor square. Since they did not obey, the police prepared to disperse them by force. The police were equipped with riot gear and mounted police were also involved.
The protesters themselves wrote on their Telegram channel that they would be willing to negotiate with the police on the possibility of ending the demonstration before the start of the march of the 612 extremists. However, according to the protesters, the police did not like this.
Helsinki police announced at 4.23pm that they had ordered an end to the “Helsinki without Nazis” demonstration in Töölöntor because it was illegal.
Shortly before five o’clock the police announced that they had started cleaning the Töölöntor square.
2023-12-06 16:09:00
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