VIENNA (Reuters), Thousands protested Saturday against Austrian restrictions that impede the spread coronavirus. This included COVID-19 mandatory vaccines, and home confinement orders to the unvaccinated.

    Around 1,400 police officers were on duty to oversee the protest, which attracted an estimated 44,000 people, and followed a similar demonstration in the Austrian capital last week.

Three people were charged with offences, including using fireworks and not wearing masks. Police said that one journalist was attacked by snowballs and ice while covering the event in Heldenplatz Square.

    The crowd was addressed by Herbert Kickl, leader of the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party, who attacked the government’s response to the pandemic. Kickl stated that the people had not realized they were being “kicked in their arse” and promised to continue the protests.

Separately, approximately 2,500 people protested the Klagenfurt restrictions, and 150 demonstrated in Linz.

    Faced with surging daily infections, Austria last month became the first country in Western Europe to reimpose a lockdown and said it would make vaccinations mandatory from February.

    Banners saying “No to compulsory vaccination” and “Hands off our children” were carried by protesters in Vienna, who chanted “We are the people,” and “resistance”.

    Austria, which has a population of 8.9 million people, has reported 1.2 million coronavirus cases and more than 13,000 deaths since the pandemic began last year.