Eight people were arrested during an anti-lockdown demonstration in Copenhagen this past weekend.
Organised by a group called "Men in Black", the gathering of around 1,200 people in the Danish capital was a reaction against the government's announcement that it was extending its numerous anti-coronavirus restrictions, TV2 reported.
The arrested individuals reportedly used illegal fireworks and exhibited rowdy behaviour. Otherwise, the rally was described as "largely peaceful" by the police.
— presse fotos (@pressefotosdk) February 27, 2021
Initially, the demonstration gathered around 600 people, but the crowd subsequently doubled, as more people joined the gathering in front of Copenhagen's town hall.
— Trine Maria Ilsøe (@Trilsoe) February 27, 2021
According to TV2, Hard Line leader Rasmus Paludan also showed up for the demonstration in Copenhagen and gave a short speech.
A demonstration was also held in Aarhus, the country's second-largest city. There, it was organised by the group Freedom Movement's Joint Council to show its dissatisfaction with how the government is handling the corona epidemic.
"Men in Black" previously arranged intense demonstrations in Copenhagen, Aalborg, and other major Danish cities, which led to arrests. In January, an effigy of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was burned in Copenhagen.
While Danes have been allowed to visit some shops and take part in small-scale sports activities and public events, most restrictions have been extended until 5 April. For instance, bars, restaurants, and most educational institutions remain closed.
Although the number of new infections has fallen in recent weeks from their peak in December, when up to 3,500 new cases a day were recorded, the incidence of the mutated British strain, which has been identified as more contagious, has been rising, and remains a source of concern for the authorities.
Denmark, a nation of 5.8 million, has seen a total of 211,000 COVID-19 cases with nearly 2,400 deaths.
