Tear gas, water cannons as Czechs protest virus rules
Also radical football fans gathered in Prague
19 October, 12:18The rally turned fierce as protesters and police scuffled after authorities began dispersing the crowd, saying attendance far exceeded the current limit. "Participants attacked the police without any reason," Prague police chief Tomas Lerch told reporters, while another officer described them as "radical fans". "We used a water cannon, tear gas and petards," Lerch said, adding that nearly 20 officers were injured. Prague's emergency service tweeted it had treated nine people and taken four to hospital "mainly with head injuries, cuts, inebriation and breathing problems following tear gas intoxication." Police said they detained around 50 people before the rally and seized fireworks, brass knuckles, telescopic batons and firearms. The Czech Republic is the worst-off in the EU's rankings of new coronavirus cases and deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. On Friday, the EU member of 10.7 million people set a new record in daily infections with 11,105 cases. (ANSA-AFP).