Thousands of people have attended a rally in Dresden today organised by the Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West (PEGIDA) movement.
The crowds gathered in the early afternoon and walked along the banks of the River Elbe, holding banners criticising German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her liberal immigration policies that saw over one million migrants enter the country last year.
According to Reuters, police estimate around 8,000 people turned up to the demonstration, while around 2,000 people, including Saxony’s deputy premier, joined a counter-demonstration on the other side of the river.
Supporters of the PEGIDA movement gather in Dresden, eastern German(TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
(TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
(TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
A PEGIDA supporter wears a Germany hat (TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
PEGIDA supporters gather in Dresden (TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Demonstrators hold a sign reading “Courage for Truth”
A demonstrator holds a placard reading “Close the borders!” (TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
“Islamists not welcome” (TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
(TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
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