WARSAW, Poland — Violent clashes erupted in Warsaw on Friday as right-wing extremists, soccer hooligans and anarchists attacked police with cobblestones and glass bottles during marches commemorating the country’s Independence Day.
Marches by far-right and nationalist groups on the key national holiday have grown in size in recent years, with left-wing activists also turning out to oppose them.
National police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said that a police plan to keep hostile marches from one another was successful but that “thugs and hooligans joined the marches to target police.”
At least 21 people were taken to hospitals with injuries after the clashes, which were some of the most violent Poland has seen in years. Several police officers were injured.
Dressed in black, and with scarves hiding their faces, young people threw bottles, firecrackers and stones at riot police in downtown Warsaw, where groups of rightist and leftist activists were holding separate marches.
The most violent clashes Friday appeared to be the work of far-right protesters and soccer hooligans. Police used water cannons and pepper gas to bring the situation under control and arrested about 200.
