(hd) Several assemblies took place in Herford today (17.05.2025) in the city center. The police prepared intensively for this operation in order to protect the exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of assembly. To this end, the police deployed a large number of officers.
A kick-off rally with the theme "Demonstration for law and order - against left-wing extremism and lawless spaces" took place at 13:00 on the Alter Markt in Herford. This rally then moved along the street Auf der Freiheit to Ravensberger Kurpark with around 100 participants. An interim rally was held there before the march returned to Alter Markt. From 09:00, six assemblies were held in the city center, which critically discussed the first demonstration. Various alliances, clubs and associations held protests on the topics "For democracy and cosmopolitanism - against the right", "For a Herford without Nazis", "Against right-wing violence", "Herford against the right - for democracy and diversity", "For democracy, freedom and cohesion - against extremism" and "Against the neo-Nazi march in Herford". At its peak, around 1,300 rally participants marched from the city center squares to a cultural center on Diebrocker Straße. The police's aim was to facilitate the reported gatherings, protect the participants, prevent disruptions and - if necessary - prosecute criminal offenses. The police measures ensured that freedom of assembly could be exercised. All participants in the assembly were able to exchange views. There were isolated cases of disruption. The police intervened consistently in these cases. In the course of the operation, a police officer was injured by a firecracker being thrown at him. Criminal proceedings were initiated. Another police officer was hit by a car at a cordon point and slightly injured. On the street Auf der Freiheit, the freedom of movement of a group of people had to be briefly restricted. This group had previously attempted to disrupt an assembly.
The assembly caused temporary traffic disruptions in Herford city center. The police endeavored to limit the effects as far as possible by means of traffic control measures.
Please send any queries to:
Herford district police authority
Press office Herford
Telephone: 05221 888 1250
Email: %20pressestelle.herford [at] polizei.nrw.de (pressestelle[dot]herford[at]polizei[dot]nrw[dot]de)