The police feared Wuppertal would overflow with widespread violence as anti-Islam movement Pegida and the right wing extremist Salafists marched with their followers across the central streets of German city.
According to German police report, the demonstration went without significant violence. Approximately 1,000 officers took part in this operation, the largest one in Wuppertal over decades.
“I am very happy with how this difficult day went,” Wuppertal police spokeswoman Birgitta Radermacher said in a statement.
“There were no injuries. I thank all the police officers who were there and I'm happy that I could send them back home in full health.”
Several thousand protesters showed up for the event. Around 2,000 came to oppose the extremist movements. The Salafists marched against “the incarceration of Muslims worldwide” and Pegida protested against the Salafist march.
According to Wuppertal police report, eight people were detained and officers were forced to use pepper spray.
