More than 100 detained in Prague protest over COVID-19 restrictions

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PRAGUE, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Czech police detained more than 100 protesters at a demonstration against the COVID-19 restrictions here on Sunday afternoon on suspicion of rioting and attacking officers, according to local media reports.

The demonstration, which started at about 2 p.m. at the Old Town Square in Prague, ended up in clashes between protesters and police after the rally was officially terminated due to a higher attendance than the permitted limit of 500.

Some protesters remained at the square after the demonstration was stopped. They threw flares, beer bottles, stones and other objects at police, and some attempted to break through the police cordon. The police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse violent protesters who attacked them.

The Czech News Agency quoted Prague police spokesperson Eva Kropacova as saying that some 20 police officers suffered injuries in brawls with demonstrators.

About 2,000 demonstrators, including soccer and ice hockey fans, attended the rally. Most of them did not wear face masks and did not keep the two-meter distance allowed under current regulation, local media reported.

According to the current regulation, public gatherings of more than six are banned but up to 500 people are allowed to demonstrate if they are divided into separated groups of 20 and wear face masks.

The Czech Republic has witnessed a surge in COVID-19 infections in recent weeks, making it one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe. Enditem

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