Cologne police injured in anti-war protest attacks

Eleven police officers were injured during an anti-war demonstration in Cologne, Germany, on Saturday afternoon. The protest, organized by the alliance ‘Rheinmetall entwaffnen’, was held to oppose arms deliveries and military armament.

While approximately 400 participants were registered, police estimates suggest around 3,000 people attended. The event escalated when masked individuals threw paint bags at a bank building, used pyrotechnics, and attacked officers with kicks, punches, and fire extinguishers.

During the unrest, masked protesters targeted law enforcement with steel balls, damaging police helmets and striking officers' uniforms. One officer was reported to be unable to return to duty immediately. In response to the violence, police detained a group of approximately 300 participants and initiated criminal proceedings.