Police step in to prevent clash between members of extremist party and Romanies

Around 40 members of the far-right Workers’ Party have marched through areas of Krupka near the town of Teplice, waving banners with ultra-nationalistic slogans. They said they had been asked to “monitor” parts of the town by locals. Ahead of the event, police arrested two for disorderly conduct. They also confiscated knives and other weapons and have had to intervene to prevent a clash between members of the extremist party and around 100 members of the Roma community. Among those on site to monitor developments was the outgoing Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Michael Kocáb. The Workers’ Party has staged similar events before to try and drum up support. Earlier this year, the government moved to have the far-right party banned but was unsuccessful in court.