Berlin rioters held for attempted murder

May 3, 2009, 15:13 GMT

Berlin - Four youths who took part in violent May Day riots in Berlin have been remanded in custody on suspicion of attempting to murder police, prosecutions spokesman Michael Grunwald said Sunday.

A further 21 were being held on other charges after the Friday mayhem, described by police as the worst rioting in Berlin for several years. The annual violence is attributed to a loose anarchist movement said to have about 5,800 members around Germany.

The four accused were allegedly observed as they threw firebombs, made of petrol in bottles or balloons with fuses, at police officers.

Rioters also tried to set officers on fire by pouring inflammable liquids on them followed by lighted matches.

None of the police were injured, thanks to quick extinguishing work by their colleagues, but 273 police were treated for other injuries, mostly minor, from the brawling and stone-throwing.

Using shields, clubs, tear-gas and pepper-spray, police fought running battles with an estimated 2,500 youths for several hours in the Kreuzberg neighbourhood on Friday night and booked 289 persons.

'It's only a matter of time before someone gets killed in these riots,' said Konrad Freiberg, leader of the GdP police union.

Rainer Wendt, head of another police union, criticized the police tactics as too mild. He favours a visible show of strength by the police and use of water cannon to clear the streets of rioters.

Several movements, ranging from anarchists to neo-Nazis, hold their main assemblies on May 1, Europe's labour day.