Protests against Rheinmetall intensified in Cologne, resulting in injuries reported.

In the heart of Cologne, on August 30th, approximately 3,000 people gathered for an anti-war demonstration. The aim of the protest was to express opposition to armament and war, with a recurring theme being the name Rheinmetall, a German arms manufacturer.

The demonstration, however, took a turn for the worse as tensions arose early on. The police, accompanying the protest with a large contingent, used irritant gas and batons during the disbandment, resulting in 12 officials being injured, and four having to break off their service. Similarly, there were injuries among the demonstrators, with a spokesperson confirming 60 to 70 people were injured.

The police arrested an aggressive group during the demonstration, and some people were taken into custody. Protests were also held against Israel's actions against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Amidst the chaos, some participants wore face coverings and lit smoke bombs. The police defended their actions, stating that the escalation came from individual groups. A spokesperson for the demonstrators, on the other hand, criticised that approximately 40 to 60 injured were not allowed into the hospital.

Deployment forces found burning spirits, gas bottles, and pyrotechnics in a vehicle. No specific information was found about who took responsibility for the violent acts at the demonstration. The police stopped the assembly of the "Disarm Rheinmetall" alliance in the evening, citing attacks on officials and violations of the assembly law.

Both the police and the participants have announced legal steps following the events of the demonstration. The police stated that medical help is made available where it is required. A spokesperson for the demonstrators, initially without giving exact numbers, later spoke of 60 to 70 people who were injured.

As the dust settles, both sides are left to address the aftermath of the events, with legal proceedings and healing likely to be the next steps in this complex situation.

Protests against Rheinmetall intensified in Cologne, resulting in injuries reported.