German police deal with threat of violence from Neo-Nazis by confiscating 7,000 pints of beer at far right festival

• Alcohol was banned from the the ‘Schild und Schwert Festival’ in Ostritz  
• A court ruled there was a threat of violence at the event over the weekend 
• The court also banned a counter protest which was due to take place nearby 

German police have confiscated 7,000 pints of beer from a far right group over fears one of their gatherings could turn violent. 

A court in eastern Germany ordered the alcohol to be removed from the ‘Schild und Schwert Festival’ which took place in Ostritz, on the German-Polish border, over the weekend.

The high administrative court (OVG) in Bautzen, east of Dresden, ruled that alcohol could increase the likelihood of violence.

German police confiscating the beer on Friday last week. Officers from across the region were called in to police the even which took place in the eastern town of Ostritz over the weekend

The festival’s organisers claimed that previous events had taken place without incident.

But the event was forced to go ahead without alcohol after police arrived to remove the beer on Friday.

Police from across the region were called in to keep the peace during the festival.

A 33-year old bass-player who put on a balaclava during a concert was interviewed afterwards by police and is being investigated.

Around 600 people participated in the event, which featured concerts with right-wing extremist bands.

The court also barred an opposition group from staging a counter-protest near the festival over fears it may incite violence. 

Organizers of the demonstration had planned to march to the Hotel Neisseblick, which is within sight and hearing distance of the concert.

But the court claimed authorities would struggle to keep the peace if violence broke out because vehicles might not be able to access the area.  

Michael Kretschmer, Saxony’s state premier, said the eastern German state will do anything in its power to combat right-wing extremism.

‘I am very impressed with how in such a small town … the citizens stand up to make it clear that right-wing extremists are not wanted here,’ Kretschmer said.

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