BERLIN (Sputnik) — The rallies are taking place near the Berlin central station. Armed police squads are on duty at the station, on platforms and exits.
"We assume that the rally has currently gathered about 2,500 people. Another 1,000 are participating in a counter-rally," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti.
Representatives of opposition political parties, in particular the right-wing Alternative for Germany party (AfD), as well as the anti-Islamization movement Pegida, are taking part in the rally.
The rally comes a day before Sunday's local parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in three federal states, namely Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt.
The similar rally is set to take place in Stuttgart on Sunday.
