Traffic flowing again at Connewitz Crossing after demos - Leipzig’s Connewitzer Kreuz paralyzed by rival protests and heavy police presence
Leipzig’s Connewitzer Kreuz saw hours of disruption on January 17, 2026, as thousands gathered for protests and counter-protests. Nine separate assemblies took place, involving around 3,000 participants with opposing political stances. The intersection remained closed for much of the day before police finally reopened it in the early evening.
The day’s events began with a pro-Palestinian march under the slogan Antifa means: Free Palestine, organized by Gruppe Handala and anti-imperialist activists. Demonstrators set off from Connewitzer Kreuz toward the city center in the afternoon. Meanwhile, opposing groups—including Antideutsche (pro-Israel solidarity), Initiative Solidarisches Connewitz (All Connewitzer are beautiful), and the Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaft Leipzig (Against all antisemitism)—held their own rallies.
The large gatherings forced authorities to shut down the intersection for hours. A heavy police presence monitored the situation, stepping in repeatedly during the evening. Officers intervened over violations of the masking ban and other public order issues. By late evening, the protests had dispersed, and the area returned to calm. Police confirmed no major incidents before reopening the roads to traffic.
Traffic flow at Connewitzer Kreuz resumed after a day of demonstrations and heightened security. The protests, involving pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups alongside local initiatives, concluded without lasting unrest. Authorities maintained control throughout, ensuring the area was cleared and reopened by nightfall.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
