Berlin May 1 rally largely peaceful, though objects thrown at police

The demonstration to mark May 1 was largely calm in Berlin, the German police trade union said on Saturday, though it noted isolated acts of violence.

Demonstrators from left-wing autonomous groups threw objects at the police, the GdP union said, noting at least 10 officers had sustained minor injuries.

But overall, developments were continuing in the right direction, with the police having managed to get “any potential for violence under control,” the union said. 

At the end of the rally, some threw firecrackers and bottles at police in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg and scuffles broke out.

But beforehand, the day proceeded peacefully, despite the heated atmosphere - and hot weather - at the city's demonstration uniting numerous left-wing and radical left-wing groups.

The police said 10,000 people attended the rally, though the organizers put the figure at 30,000.