Turks and Kurds Battle In the Streets of Switzerland AGAIN: Over a Dozen Injured in Riot near Bern, Switzerland

Over a Dozen Injured in Riot near Bern, Switzerland

Riots broke out between participants of an authorized and an unauthorized demonstration. Turkish and Kurdish nationalists rioted. Four policemen were injured. A car slammed into a crowd of people. 

In the early afternoon of September 12th, the inner city of Bern, Switzerland lit up when a group of Turkish and Kurdish nationalists incited a riot. A group of participants in a non-authorized demonstration occupied Helvetiaplatz, and attacked the police. 

They also attacked participants of another, authorized demonstration. The police confirmed over a dozen people were injured, among them four police officers and one K9. 

This although even before the unauthorized demonstration took place, they were offered a different location by the police. But the group opposed the offer, so the police felt forced to clear Helvetiaplatz. 

Both groups were heavily armed with bats, iron bars and other weapons, and it was extremely hard to separate them. The police had to use tear gas and rubber bullets. After the riot, Kurds accused the police of being extremely heavy-handed towards them.