Government praises police after violent demonstration

Rondo Waszyngtona after masked men clash with police: photo - PAP/Jacek Turczyk

“Anyone who dares raise a hand at an officer on duty will have to face the consequences,” Minister Teresa Piotrowska said after a 'Patriots' Army' march in Warsaw saw police using water canon as masked men threw paving stones and street furniture at officers.

Organisers of the march, made up of members of far-right and nationalist groups, have blamed outsiders for disrupting the demonstration, which took place after official celebrations, led by President Komorowski, on Poland's Independence Day.

Police say they detained 276 people on Tuesday evening, with more arrests to follow after CCTV footage has been examined.

Police use water canon to contain the violence: photo - PAP/Leszek Szymański

Chief of Police Michał Domaradzki said on Wednesday morning that he was pleased with the work of officers, who managed to contain the violence to one area of the city, as the march crossed Poniatowski Bridge, and separate what he called “masked bandits” from the rest of the demonstration.

Bronislaw Komorowski has urged parliament to speed up a law on banning face covering garments at public demonstrations, a proposal first made 12 months ago after a nationalist march in Warsaw on Independence Day turned violent. (pg)

source: IAR/PAP