Clashes erupt as demonstrators burn barricades in Zurich and Basel

Unapproved demonstrations in Zurich and Basel turned violent on Saturday evening, with participants setting barricades on fire and damaging property, SRF reported. Public transport in Basel was temporarily suspended.

In Zurich, several hundred people took part, according to Keystone-SDA. Around Langstrasse and Helvetiaplatz, demonstrators made barricades from rubbish containers, electric scooters and other objects, then set them alight. Police in full gear deployed water cannons, while Zurich’s professional fire brigade extinguished burning objects.

Further clashes with police took place in side streets. Windows and other property were damaged, and a stop was sprayed with slogans. Left-wing extremist groups had called for the rally. The situation calmed after midnight, but a large police presence remained.

In Basel, about 150 people marched through the city centre, according to the cantonal police. At St. Johanns-Platz, they built and set fire to barricades. Individual acts of property damage were also reported along the route.