Protesters criticise police for excessive use of force during Helsinki demonstration

The police broke an antifascist counter protest on Finland's independence day with force to clear a route for fascist marchers.

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Protesters at the 'Helsinki without Nazis' demonstration on Independence Day accused the police of using excessive force. Kristian Wallgren described the police actions as "unnecessarily harsh," detailing how riot gear-clad officers surrounded demonstrators in Töölöntori Square, with mounted police dispersing the crowd. Wallgren found the situation frightening, citing rough encounters with obstacles like bike racks and being pushed against a tree. Despite the chaos, he believed a less forceful approach could have achieved the same dispersal outcome.

The police had banned the demonstration from Töölöntori due to a conflicting event organized by the nationalist 612 group. Officers detained 54 demonstrators who resisted orders to leave. Videos shared on social media platforms depicted clashes between mounted police and protesters. Kimmo Godtfredsen, attending with his child, described the police's aggressive and deliberate behavior, noting the concerning presence of mounted officers. Helsinki Police Chief Inspector Patrik Karlsson acknowledged the social media discussion but emphasized the challenge of commenting on individual experiences. By Thursday morning, the majority of detained protesters had been released, facing fines for disobedience towards police officers.