At least 26 policemen injured during a festival dedicated to Eritrea in Germany

MAINZ (GERMANY), 8 Jul. (DPA/EP) –

At least 26 police officers have been injured this Saturday in clashes with rioters during a festival dedicated to Eritrea in the German city of Giessen in riots.

The Police have opened a hundred cases for aggression, serious injuries and disturbance of public order and there are a hundred detainees, some displaced from other European countries.

More than 400 people have been registered in the access and many of them were directly expelled. The agents have used tear gas and charged with batons and pepper spray.

The agents were attacked by people trying to enter the festival grounds, the Hessenhallen, sources from the Hesse state authorities have explained.

During the riots, rocks, bottles and smoke bombs have been thrown as people tried to scale the fence surrounding the festival grounds. Others have attempted to swim across the adjoining river.

Most of the injured police officers have been able to continue performing their duties and there are no serious injuries, according to authorities. “The control center has no record of anyone who has participated in the violence or who has attended the act who has serious injuries,” they highlighted.

The festival has been linked to the authoritarian Eritrean regime led by President Isayas Afewerki, in power since the country gained independence from Ethiopia 30 years ago, so some 250 people who support the opposition would be responsible for the riots.