German police probing Salafist violence at demo
May 2, 2012, 8:56 AM
BERLIN (AP) – German police say they have opened a criminal investigation against 81 members of an ultra-conservative Muslim group who were arrested Tuesday after clashes with officers.
Police spokeswoman Claudia Otto said Wednesday all of the Salafists are being investigated on suspicion of dangerous bodily harm and breach of the peace.
The men were arrested after attempting to stop a small far-right march in the western German city of Solingen during which cartoons depicting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad were shown.
Strict Muslims oppose any depiction of their prophet.
Otto says all the men were released late Tuesday. She says three officers, one passer-by and one of the Salafists were injured in the clashes.
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