A regional court in Germany has given the go-ahead for mass demonstrations planned in Berlin against coronavirus (Covid-19) curbs, ruling against the capital's ban on such protests.
Police, who deployed 3,000 officers to control crowds expected to reach 20,000, have prepared for possible violence as activists opposed to the virus measures urge social media followers across Europe to arm themselves and gather in Berlin.
Until now Germany has managed the coronavirus crisis better than many of its European counterparts, with rigorous testing helping to hold down infections and deaths.
But new daily infections have accelerated in recent weeks, as in much of the world.
Authorities had announced the ban earlier this week after an event by the same organisers at the start of the month was broken up because the participants numbering tens of thousands were not wearing masks or keeping the required distance from one another.
