The planned demonstration is said to be “peaceful” – but the police fear violence from the approximately 1,000 left-wing extremists who are expected to participate.
And already during the morning, police and protesters clashed after a large group of protesters tried to break through a police cordon.
The police were forced to use pepper spray and batons, according to the German newspaper DW.
In addition, the round of 16 in the European Football Championship between Germany and Denmark takes place in Dortmund later this evening, not far from Essen.