Prague, Oct 28 (CTK) – Hundreds of people met at demonstrations against migration in Prague, where armoured police had to interfere, and other Czech towns yesterday, on the occasion of a national holiday marking Czechoslovakia’s establishment.
A total 1500 people attended a rally against migrants held by the Bloc against Islam and the parliamentary Dawn-National Democracy in Brno, the second largest town.
Armoured police had to interfere at a demonstration against the EU, migration and Islam in Prague centre. Policemen had to divide the groups of opponents and supporters of refugees.
The rally, organised by the Bloc against Islam and Dawn-National Democracy, attracted hundreds of people. Many of them carried Czech flags.
Shortly after the beginning, some 30 activists with a loudhailer and banners expressing opposite opinions, approached the anti-migration demonstration.
Both groups tried to shout each other down until the police intervened.
According to the police estimates, some 300 people are on the square.
Lutz Baumann, chairman of the German Pegida movement criticising Islam, arrived in Prague to support the anti-migration demonstration. The participants welcomed him with a stormy applause and chanting.
“All European patriots must cooperate now to be able to face this threat. We are strong and we will manage it,” Baumann said.
Participants in a mass demonstration in Brno carried banners with slogans against immigration, the refugee quotas, the EU migration policy and the alleged Islamisation of Europe.
“The event is to point out an immense danger that the wave of Islamist migrants poses to Europe,” Bloc against Islam spokesman David Stepan told CTK.
Some MPs for the Dawn-National Coalition want to try to push through changes in the asylum law which could help improve the situation, he added.
Brno Mayor Petra Vokral (ANO) called it unacceptable to hold such a demonstration on the day of the national holiday. However, it is not possible to ban similar events, he added.
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