Zurich police in front of a burning container on Saturday
Keystone
An anti-abortion demonstration in Zurich has been disrupted by participants in a counter-demonstration. Police officers were attacked and containers burned.
Two police officers were slightly injured as a result of projectiles being thrown, according to Zurich City police on Saturday. Some 175 people were briefly held by police and one was arrested for violence and threatening the authorities.
Participants in the authorised “March for Life” demonstration gathered at around 2pm on Turbinenplatz. At around 3pm, more than 1,000 people formed a procession.
A little further on, several hundred people gathered shortly before 2pm in a park to start an unauthorised counter-demonstration. The police went to the site with mediation teams.
Participants in the counter-demonstration were informed that they could not form a procession but that a rally in the park would be tolerated. Nevertheless, shortly after 2:45pm several people walked to Turbinenplatz. Some of them pushed prams containing things to throw.
Bottles and stones
In order to avoid a confrontation between pro- and anti-abortion demonstrators, the police fired rubber bullets and irritants at the unauthorised procession. In return, the police officers faced a volley of bottles, stones and other projectiles. Several small groups also tried to cross police roadblocks.
At the same time, people set fire to containers in several places and blocked streets with construction material. Some of the firefighters who came to extinguish the flames were attacked and injured.
The police temporarily stopped the March for Life for security reasons. However, the procession was able to resume at around 3:45pm and continue on a shortened route.
More
More
Abortion in Switzerland: the debate and the law
This content was published on
A Christian group “March for Life” is demonstrating in Zurich on Saturday to raise awareness about the consequences of abortion.
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
This content was published on
A criminal investigation into a Swiss media editor and a former health ministry official over leaked government Covid pandemic strategy is to be closed.
‘James Bond’ Schilthorn summit re-opens in Switzerland
This content was published on
The summit of the Schilthorn mountain in Switzerland will be accessible again from Saturday after being closed for five months.
Swiss lawmakers urge tougher stance with criminal asylum seekers
This content was published on
The Swiss Senate wants to tighten laws to both restrict the movement of asylum seekers being investigated for crimes and to expel the guilty.
Switzerland eyes high-speed train fleet for European connections
This content was published on
Swiss Federal Railways eyes 40 strong high-speed train fleet to service international destinations, such as Italy and France.
This content was published on
Driven by purchases abroad, e-commerce in Switzerland continues to grow, with sales approacheing the CHF15 billion markin 2024.
Switzerland close to further restricting tobacco advertising
This content was published on
Switzerland moves a step closer to restricting tobacco advertising in the print media as one chamber of parliament votes in favour of measures.
Swiss researchers improve therapy for paralysed patients
This content was published on
Using rehabilitation robots and a spinal cord implant, Swiss researchers are helping people with spinal cord injuries to walk again.
New Swiss government minister prepared for defence mandate
This content was published on
New Swiss government minister Martin Pfister says he is prepared for the defence mandate sif he be asked to take on the vacant role.
This content was published on
In Switzerland, the number of teenage abortions has been falling for years but women over 30 are increasingly terminating their pregnancy.
More women opt for genetic screening to detect infant disability risk
This content was published on
According to the latest figures from the Federal Office of Public Health, 25,000 out of 87,000 expecting mothers undergo non-invasive prenatal genetic screening every year, report the Le Matin Dimanche and Sonntags Zeitung papers. The test, which costs CHF800 ($834.4), detects trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), 18 and 13 with a 99% reliability. The risk of…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.