Hundreds of policemen on hand for Prague protest against Covid restrictions

Hundreds of police officers from around the country are being sent to Prague to oversee the planned protest of football and ice hockey ultras against the government’s Covid-19 restrictions, due to take place on Prague’s Old Town Square on Sunday afternoon. Police president Jan Švejdar announced the news on his Twitter account on Saturday.

The protest was initiated by supporters of Baník Ostrava football club, who claim that the government’s restrictions are nonsensical and result from a failure to prepare for a second wave of the virus. The hardcore fans plan to wear all black and not to sport their clubs’ colours during the demonstration.

Interior Minister Jan Hamáček on Friday called on the demonstrators to avoid violence and follow the regulations introduced to halt the spread of coronavirus, such as wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing.