The police in Dresden have reportedly received seven complaints from journalists who felt impaired in the recent neo-Nazi march in their work by police officers. These included four journalists from the "Sächsische Zeitung", a reporter from "Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten" and two supraregional rapporteurs.
The mission was characterized by a tense and confrontational situation, the chief police director René Demmler is quoted in a statement. More than 1,200 neo-Nazis attended a so-called funeral march to commemorate the Allied bombing of the city in February 1945 a week ago. About the same number of demonstrators protested against the deployment, for example, with seat blockades. The police separated the two camps.
Incidents should be dealt with critically
"In this context, journalists told us that they too are aware of this fact and that it is extremely difficult for the task forces in such situations to separate demonstrators and representatives of the press within seconds," Demmler said. "But this does not release our officials from a careful, prudent and differentiated action."
The evaluation has shown that emergency services "in some cases journalists despite the presentation of a press card or confirmation letter dismissed and partly pushed away." In one case, a journalist was pushed aside. Demmler apologized for this. The incidents would be critically reworked. There were no indications according to the police.