Germany: Hundreds stage anti-immigration protest in Chemnitz Aug. 30 /update 2

Event

Hundreds of demonstrators took part in an anti-immigration protest in Chemnitz (Saxony state) on Thursday, August 30, days after two men of Iraqi and Syrian origin fatally stabbed a German man in the city on Sunday, August 26. The protest - the third to be held in the city in recent days - reportedly took place amid a robust police presence and remained mostly calm - a marked difference from earlier protests on Sunday, August 26, and Monday, August 27, in which several people were wounded when clashes broke out between far-right, anti-immigration protesters and left-wing counterprotesters.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA) movement have called for a related protest march in the city on Saturday, September 1. Additional anti-immigration protests are possible in Chemnitz over the coming days. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are expected near all such demonstrations.

Context

AfD initially called for a "spontaneous demonstration" in Chemnitz on August 26 to protest the alleged killing of a German man by two men of Iraqi and Syrian origin; around 100 people showed up to protest but dispersed before a larger crowd of several hundreds of people showed up to hold a related anti-immigration demonstration. Several people were wounded in clashes between anti-immigration protesters and left-wing counterprotesters on August 26 and August 27.

Reports have emerged since the August 26 stabbing attack in Chemnitz claiming that several migrants have been assaulted in the cities of Chemnitz and Wismar in apparent retaliation to the stabbing attack.

Advice

Individuals in Chemnitz and other affected cities are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.