Counter-Protester Detained After May Day Attack at Keskustori as Suspected Far-Right Assailants Continue March

A counter-protester who gave his name as Veikko told Yle he was attacked by participants in a far-right Sinimusta movement march in Tampere's Keskustori on May Day and was later detained while at least one alleged assailant continued marching.

Video seen by Yle does not show how the confrontation began. Veikko said he and a friend were standing under bus shelters with protest signs after police directed them there as the march returned toward Jugendtori. One marcher complained about their signs and left; about ten people then rushed them. His sign was taken, a horn was broken, he was hit in the face and kicked in the chest. After he threw a fragment of the horn at the attackers, police arrested him and held him in custody for about four hours.

Police confirmed the person who kicked Veikko is a suspect in an assault investigation and said the scene moved very quickly, making it difficult for officers to immediately determine who did what. Authorities are probing three suspected assaults linked to the May Day demonstrations, including a separate incident involving a sprayed gas attack, and four private individuals have filed complaints with the Parliamentary Ombudsman over police conduct at the events.