German police used water cannon and pepper spray on Wednesday (November 18) in an effort to disperse thousands of protesters angry about Chancellor Angela Merkel's plans to set a legal framework for enforcing coronavirus restrictions.
Protesters near Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate threw bottles at police and set off smoke bombs, as seen on live television pictures. Riot police detained some protesters while firing volleys of water from water cannon and urging crowds by loudspeaker to disperse.
Police detained 190 people and nine officers were injured, according to police.
Demonstrators, including some far-right radicals, opposed legislation passed by the lower house to enshrine in law powers in order to impose steps such as curbs on social contact, rules on mask-wearing, drinking alcohol in public and shutting shops.
The aim of the amendment, to go to the upper house later on Wednesday, is to prevent legal challenges to the measures that have so far mostly been enforceable at federal state or local level.
Although most Germans are abiding by the latest "lockdown light" to tackle a second wave of the coronavirus, critics say the amendment endangers citizens' civil rights.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has compared the amendment with the 1933 Enabling Act that paved the way to Hitler's Nazi dictatorship.
Protesters, whistling and banging saucepans, were neither keeping the required social distance nor wearing face masks. Some held banners with slogans such as "Stop the corona pandemic lie" and "No to forced vaccinations".
Health Minister Jens Spahn told parliament no one would be forced to be vaccinated.
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