So in the heart of Frankfurt, around the Opera House area, there is this massive 'square'. In recent days, I've essayed a bit over the area being a meeting point for young people, with the area having become a 'party-zone' on Friday and Saturday evenings. Thousands usually come out, drink, and party-up.
Around 3 AM this morning (Sunday)....for whatever reason you can imagine....the Frankfurt police made a patrol through the area and decided that they would enforce the social distancing rule (1.5 meters) and general Corona ban rules.
Why you'd go and do this in a zone with a fair amount of drinking....is beyond me.
The police say at 3 AM....around 500 people were still in the 'zone'.
This police and Corona-rule business quickly turned into a riot. More police had to be called upon, and you end up with forty folks arrested/detained, and five police injured in some fashion.
HR did a great report over the episode and worth reviewing.
In this case, one has to wonder if the police considered the situation of heavy boozing and this Corona rule enforcement were a good mix. I just can't imagine walking around in some party 'zone' at 3 AM and hoping my advice on masks or social distancing having much positive affect.
The sad thing? If the charges pop up with the detained folks....over the Coronavirus bans, and resisting arrest....you'd have to hire up a decent lawyer, and figure at the very least....a couple hundred Euro for ban violations and resisting....to be dumped on you in the weeks to come. Then you'd stand there in front of the judge and just admit you don't remember much....because you were too drunk when the German policeman confronted you.
Update: From mid-day (Sunday), reported by ARD News. The Frankfurt police chief says around 3 AM...some brawl between Germans started up (maybe up to 30 individuals). Some guy was pretty bad off, and the police rushed in to settle the brawl. Then things went to an extreme level....with some party folks attacking the police for interrupting the brawl.
Bottles started to be thrown at the police, and that's when they had to call for additional police. So 39 folks were detained. Out of this....almost all (except 1) were young men....ages 17 and 21. Then the chief noted that most all were "prominently with a migrant background" (I used quotes because this is what the police actually did say).
The rest of the chief's assessment went to this odd development that has been noted in recent weeks.....where a simple act of throwing a beer bottle at a police car....excited the crowd, and would lead to additional violence.
The end? I'm guessing some assessment by the city council will occur, and next weekend will involve a higher number of police on night patrol in the heart of the city.
Update: Sunday 6:30 PM. HR report.
The idea of shutting down booze sales in Frankfurt? Well...yeah, it did get brought up. Some folks suggest this but there are so many clubs and pubs around the city which depend on late night operations and beer/drinks/wine being sold, so it's hard to imagine this idea going far.
Recommend a read of the report.
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