“Cancel the party, cancel the party. We do not support dictatorship.”
Pro-democracy demonstrators
Eritrea demonstration turned into a fight. Police are asking people to stay away.
Violent clashes in Kong Oscars gate. Several are said to be injured.
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The police have blocked off parts of Kong Oscars gate, where a demonstration is taking place.
At 1.28pm, BT’s photographer reports that the police are putting on gas masks.
The police have previously reported on Twitter/X that it may be appropriate to use CS gas to disperse those involved.
At a press conference at 1:40 p.m., the police stated that they had used tear gas against the demonstrators.
According to BT’s journalist on the spot, there are over 150 people. PHOTO: OSAMA SHAHEEN
20 police patrols
– For now, there are clashes, demonstrations and stone throwing. I’ve heard that one person is supposed to be injured, but I don’t know more, says Linn Søfteland, BT’s on-call lawyer at 1pm.
She says there are around 20 police patrols in the area.
– Did it come as a surprise to you that the demonstration started so early today?
– We already knew about it, but hoped that it would go smoothly. The situation is unclear now, says Søfteland.
The demonstration is organized in connection with the Eritrean association in Hordaland marking the beginning of the war of liberation against Ethiopia.
The party is supposed to be tonight, but when the organizers arrived at the venue to prepare, they were surprised by around 200 protesters.
Fights reportedly broke out and people started throwing things at each other.
The demonstrators believe that the organizers support the current regime in Eritrea, which they themselves deny.
Chairman Hidru Ghebremichael Hidru of the Eritrean association tells BT that the protesters wanted to prevent them from entering the venue.
According to him, several people have been injured after stones have been thrown.
Witnesses who are on the scene state that stones were thrown at the police. The protesters also shouted:
“The police, shame on you. You protect the supporters of the regime.”
The Eritrean Association event starts at 8pm on Saturday night, but they have invited guests to come at 14.00 to prepare the room.
The demonstrators had gathered at the Cathedral at 12 o’clock.
– Must have calmed down
A BT journalist on the scene writes at 13.05 that the situation has calmed down and that there is no longer stone throwing or violent acts.
The demonstrators now stand next to the police and shout:
“Stop the festival.”
“We are not against the police.”
“The police must stop the dictator.”
– Wants dialogue
– What we are doing now is to enter into a dialogue with the demonstrators and have them in an organized place so that they can get their message across, says police task leader Christian Meyer.
– So you want to keep them here until further notice?
– Yes. Now things are going well in a way, there was quite a bit of commotion, but now things have calmed down. And then we just have to follow along, says Meyer.
He says that there is no indication that the protesters will do anything to other people who are not connected to this event. But that people should stay away from the area for their own safety.
According to one of BT’s journalists at the scene, the police have now cleared Kong Oscars gate of people.
“Cancel the party, cancel the party. We do not support dictatorship,” is shouted tactfully.
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