According to the estimates of the Warsaw Security Bureau, approximately 90,000 people took part in this year's Independence March organized by nationalists – said Marzena Gawkowska, deputy spokeswoman for the Warsaw City Hall, after 5 p.m. According to the organizers, there were “at least 250,000 participants.” The police do not comment on attendance data.
Last year, the town hall estimated attendance at 40,000 people.
Even before this year's march began, the organizers themselves estimated that approximately 100,000 people would take part in it. After the march, they stated that there were “at least 250,000 participants” “It was the largest Independence March in years! At least 250,000! And it was also peaceful and safe. And we, the organizers, were much calmer having such a legal team of lawyers behind us.” and legal advisors, ready to provide the necessary assistance,” wrote Bartłomiej Malewski, president of the management board of the Independence March Association.
The police do not comment on attendance data.
Peaceful on the streets
As the director of the Warsaw Security Center, Jarosław Misztal, informed after 3 p.m., the situation on the streets of Warsaw looked very calm. He noted that pyrotechnics are fired occasionally, although there are fewer of them than in previous years.
Many pyrotechnic materials, as well as knives and telescopic batons, were seized by the police during the march. The Warsaw Police Headquarters assured that all activities during the demonstration in the capital are only to ensure safety.
– So far, our police officers have secured many pyrotechnic materials, the carrying and use of which is currently prohibited in Warsaw by the decision of the Masovian Voivode. The items found as a result of the search of some people also include knives, telescopic batons and brass knuckles – said the press spokesman of the Warsaw Police Commander, Junior Insp. Robert Szumiata
– Our units include, among others, people suspected of committing a crime (including those in possession of drugs), but also minors in possession of pyrotechnic materials, who, in accordance with applicable regulations, must be collected by their legal guardians – explained Szumiata.
Police interventions and arrests
After 9 p.m., the Warsaw police announced that the police they intervened against 164 peopleof which 94 had or used pyrotechnic materials (this was prohibited by the decision of the Masovian Voivodeship in force on November 11 in Warsaw). 197 flares, 485 firecrackers, 320 flares, 18 so-called strobes and 2 launchers.
As the police added, 70 people were detainedincluding: 49 possessing narcotic drugs, 10 wanted people (one was listed in the Schengen Information System, the so-called SIS), four people for participating in a fight, one person for insulting an officer, one person for attempted burglary, one person in connection with the crime of promoting Nazism from Art. 256kk, as well as four people using drones.
The Independence March, organized since 2011 by the Independence March Association, passes through the Poniatowski Bridge, its front approaching its destination, i.e. the field of the National Stadium. The police informed that by 14 detained several dozen people
Main photo source: PAP/Marcin Obara