Riots at Hardplatz Zurich: Police investigate targeted attacks on officers
Following an illegal party at Zurich's Hardplatz involving over 100 masked individuals, police officers were attacked with paving stones and fireworks rockets. No arrests were made at the scene.
Investigation following disturbances at Hardplatz
Investigations are in full swing following the serious riots at Zurich's Hardplatz. According to watson.ch, more than a hundred masked individuals had gathered for an illegal party on the square on Saturday evening.
The first report reached the city police shortly after 11 p.m. The officers initially allowed the event to continue – according to police, there was no grounds for forcible dispersal at that time.
The situation changed when reports came in of damaged vehicles, sprayed building façades, fireworks, and complaints from residents. The police then decided to dissolve the party.
During the evacuation attempt, officers were pelted with paving stones and glass bottles. Subsequently, fireworks rockets were deliberately fired at police officers and police women, explained the city police to SRF. The authorities suspect that some of the fireworks had been deposited in the surrounding area in advance – whether the attacks were thus deliberately prepared is the subject of the ongoing investigation.
To bring the situation under control, officers deployed tear gas, rubber pellets, and water cannons. One police officer was injured. Several police vehicles, other cars, and buildings were damaged, and waste containers were set alight.
Despite the disturbances, there were no arrests at the scene. The city police justified this by stating that restoring security and protecting officers had taken priority. Targeted arrests would have required a larger force, which could not be deployed within minutes in a rapidly developing situation.
Zurich's security councillor Karin Rykart (Green Party) told SRF she was shocked. Those attacking had deliberately accepted the risk that police officers and police women could be seriously injured. When asked about adequate police staffing, Rykart pointed out that she regularly requests additional positions in the municipal council – but only part of these are approved each time. She declined to comment on the fact that her own party does not always fully support such increases.
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)