Merkel condemns neo-Nazi riots outside refugee shelter

August 24, 2015 23:05

Chancellor Angela Merkel today condemned the neo-Nazi riots outside a refugee shelter in eastern Germany over the weekend, calling the attacks and those Germans who stood by watching them "shameful."

Dozens of police were injured when a far-right mob hurled bottles and fireworks at officers trying to ensure asylum seekers could move into a shelter in Heidenau, south of Dresden.

Merkel, who had been criticized by commentators in Germany for failing to speak out swiftly against the attacks, which began Friday night, said the images shown on television were "shocking."

"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the violent outbursts. There was an aggressive mood against foreigners there that isn't acceptable in any way," she told reporters in Berlin.

Hundreds of people took part in a peaceful march organized by the far-right National Democratic Party, or NPD, on Friday evening, but hours later some of the protesters began attacking police who seemed unprepared for the violence.

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