Germany slams Leipzig virus protesters for endangering all

BERLIN (AP) — German officials on Sunday condemned the actions of 20,000 people who demonstrated against coronavirus restrictions by jamming together in a Leipzig city square largely without wearing masks, and called for an investigation into how the protest was able to get out of control.

The eastern city had tried to move Saturday's demonstration to a larger location after calculating only 5,000 people could gather in Augustusplatz plaza and maintain a safe distance from one another. A court at the last minute overturned the city's order, however, and the demonstration went ahead.

After it ballooned to more than 20,000 people and authorities determined that coronavirus regulations mandating mask wearing and social distancing weren't being followed, the crowd was told to disperse. But thousands lingered, some scuffling with reporters and throwing projectiles and fireworks at police.

“What we saw yesterday in Leipzig cannot be justified,” said Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht. “The freedom to demonstrate is not a freedom to use violence or put others at massive risk.”

She “strongly condemned” the attacks on police and the press.

“The mockery of science and right-wing hate speech that we have seen are abhorrent," she said.

She called for an investigation into how the situation was able to escalate, a sentiment echoed by many, including opposition parties.

“It cannot be that the state stands by and watches as journalists are attacked doing their work and the majority of the demonstrators clearly ignoring the conditions,” said Konstantin Kuhle of the opposition FDP party.

The demonstration came as Germany finished its first week of “lockdown light,” which brings new restrictions to slow spiking coronavirus cases but also keeps schools and...