German police praise peaceful May 1 demonstrations

BERLIN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- German police representatives on Wednesday praised the peaceful conduct of demonstrators campaigning for workers rights here and in Hamburg on Tuesday.

Police forces in the two cities highlighted that demonstrations attended by at least 8,200 people were significantly less violent in 2018 than experienced during previous years. Security authorities had mobilized large numbers of staff ahead of the scheduled protest as a precautionary measure.

May 1 marks Labor Day in Germany.

"It was a great day," said Berlin police spokesperson Winfrid Wenzel to press. Police arrested some violent protesters this year as well, but these only amounted a "low two-digit" number in the German capital. "We had the situation fully under control," the police spokesperson said.

Similarly, Hamburg police spokesperson Timo Zill expressed satisfaction that demonstrations were becoming calmer "step by step" in the Northern German port city. "We have experienced the most peaceful May 1 deployment in years," Zill said.

Federal president of the German police union Oliver Malchow attributed the peaceful nature of protests to the enhanced presence of security officers on Wednesday. "Our colleagues have ensured the right to demonstration with proportionality, tolerance and resoluteness, as well as by investigating and arresting criminal offenders," a statement by Malchow read. Enditem