Largely Peaceful May Day Rallies Held in Germany
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Thousands of people in the German cities of Berlin and Hamburg participated in demonstrations marking the Labor Day.
Around 2,300 people participated in May Day rallies in the German capital, Berlin, on Saturday evening, officials said.
The protests were peaceful, with police reporting some minor incidents of violence, Deutsche Welle reported on Sunday.
Some 760 people gathered in the Neukölln district, while at Mauerpark in the Prenzlauer Berg district around 1,500 people took part in largely peaceful demonstrations.
There were reports of sporadic violence in Hamburg, where rally participants hurled bottles at police. The protesters also set a government vehicle on fire. The police arrested a 24-year-old suspect.
Overall, the Labor Day rallies have been relatively more peaceful than previous years, said police spokesman Timo Zill.
Last year, left-wing groups took to the streets in May Day demonstrations in Berlin and Hamburg.
More rallies are planned in Berlin and Hamburg on Sunday. The security has been beefed up in major cities.