Riots at protests against refugee accommodation in Grevesmühlen

There were tumultuous scenes in Grevesmühlen on Thursday evening in front of the meeting building of the district council of Northwest Mecklenburg. According to the police, up to 700 people took part in a registered meeting against the decision to build accommodation for refugees and migrants.

Some participants tried to gain access to the district building, but were prevented and pushed back by the police. About 120 officials had to shield the district council participants and prevented this when the atmosphere was heated. Individuals would have violated the right of assembly with disguises, others are said to have thrown pyrotechnics and smoke pots.

The police have initiated four criminal cases. A police spokeswoman said on Friday that two cases were being investigated for violating the Explosives Act and one each for serious trespassing and violation of the Assembly Act. The number of suspects has not yet been clarified, it said.

The NDR reported, citing the police, that a number of people belonging to the right-wing spectrum were among the demonstrators – as were well-known right-wing extremists from the region and hooligans.

The district council then approved the construction of the accommodation in Upahl at its special session in the evening. Up to 400 people are to be housed there in a container building on a district property in an industrial area. Construction is scheduled to begin in March.

Opponents criticized that with around 400 places, it was too big for such a small community. They also complain that the detainees should be housed too far outside of a city and thus many contact points in a small village.

In the evening, the Greens spoke of an attack on democracy. “Refugees need protection from war and persecution. Our task is to take them in, provide them with dignified accommodation and guarantee their physical and psychological safety," said Katharina Horn, state chairwoman.

The International Auschwitz Committee blames right-wing extremists for the attacks. Executive Vice President Christoph Heubner said the images are "macabre" reminiscent of the attempted storming of the Reichstag or the Capitol in Washington. "Especially on today's memorial day for the victims of the Holocaust, all democrats should understand that right-wing extremists all over the world motivate and radicalize each other with their hatred and willingness to use violence."

There was also a protest against accommodation for migrants and refugees in Loitz (Vorpommern-Greifswald district). 33 people live in the former elementary school there. In a letter to the city administration, 400 citizens spoke out against the accommodation and called for the city wall to be closed so that people do not enter the city center. "Image" had reported on this.

The city called an informational meeting in response to the letter. It is said that there were allegedly inciting statements and threats against a German citizen who was born in Syria.

The 37-year-old man is said to have been insulted and threatened by two unknown male people in the anteroom, the Neubrandenburg police said on Thursday. The 33-year-old acquaintance of the man announced this at the event. According to the police, she spoke up. The search for the two unknown men was unsuccessful in the evening.

In addition, a criminal complaint was filed against a 35-year-old German for insult, according to the Neubrandenburg police. During the event, the man showed his outstretched middle finger to the deputy district administrator of the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, Jörg Hasselmann (CDU).

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