Quickly encircled

As every year, also on this year's 1st May Festival, on Labor Day, an "aftero" was announced in Zurich after the official event. Shortly after 3 p.m., a larger number of partly hooded people gathered on Helvetiaplatz. The police forces showed a strong presence and had cordoned off the surrounding streets in no time and surrounded the demonstrators. The police were not provoked by the occasional throwing of stones and bottles - riots were prevented. Zurich's main train station and various cantonal buildings were under heavy police protection.

Unlike in Istanbul, Hamburg or Milan, for example, the traditional public festival in the Zurich Zeughausareal, but also elsewhere in Switzerland, went off peacefully. The cooperation between the police and the May Day Committee and the trade union federation went well, as the media service of the Zurich Cantonal Police writes. According to the press release, 58 people were arrested primarily for the purpose of clarifying their identity and most of them were released. In addition, several expulsions were issued. For some people, prohibited pyrotechnic objects, masking material, batons, but also a homemade explosive device were seized.  Source: Stapo/SF