Frankfurt police today cancelled the permit granted earlier to the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NPD) to hold its convention that was scheduled to open there on June 16. A police spokesman said the permit was revoked for security reasons. The NPD planned to bring some 6000 delegates to the convention but counter-demonstrations were announced by-several anti-Nazi group.
The police spokesman expressed concern for law and order. “We could expect that protest demonstrations will lead to serious clashes where by we cannot rule out bloodshed and damages to public and private property,” he said. The NPD has not reacted and it was uncertain whether they would appeal the police decision in court.
Although not mentioned order followed a clash last weekend between a gang of 15-20 NPD youths and a Czechoslovakian television team that had been given official permission to shoot a film at the NPD’s youth training camp in Komen. Czech TV correspondent Cyril Smolik, his wife and cameraman were beaten by the NPD gang and their cameras and film were destroyed. Police are investigating but no arrests have been made.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed this morning that the Czechosalvak government has lodged a strong protest with Bonn over the incident. A sharp letter of protest by the Czechoslovakian Press Association was presented to the West German Embassy in Prague. While the Czech newspaper, Vecerni Proha, said the German police had acted promptly and correctly, West German newspapers demanded that the authorities take action against the NPD and its bullies.
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