With a victory by Johannes JJ Pietsch for Austria, the 69th Eurovision Song Contest took place on Saturday evening – but not entirely without incidents. There were actions in both the hall and outside the location of the event, directed against Israel and the ESC participation. Three police officers were injured in an unauthorized demo.
About 700 to 800 people would have gathered in Barfüsserplatz around 7 p.m. According to a reporter from the Keystone-SDA press office, the demonstration was directed against Israel and the ESC participation.
With the demo, English -language banners with messages such as “Freedom for your vision – United for Palestine” (Liberate Your Vision – United for Palestine) or “Do not give the genocide” (no stage for genocide). In Spraakkors the demonstrators mentioned: “Shame on You” (shame you), “Freedom for Palestine” (Free Palestine) and “Boycotted Israel, Boycott Basel”.
The police used rubber bullets
On the edge of the demo there was a fight when two men with Israel flags appeared and several protesters tried to remove their flags. A police dialogue team intervened and led the men from the meeting, said it. The police prevented a new advance from the demonstration train to the fair, where the ESC viewed, prevented and used rubber bullets, such as the SDA reporter on site. About 500 people circled and around 400 of them were checked.
Police officers thrown to fireworks – taken to the hospital
Fireworks were thrown on emergency services during this measure. Three police officers were taken to the hospital with suspicion of Bang Trauma. A person from the demonstration was treated on an outpatient basis, according to the statement. The tram traffic through the city center was interrupted for approximately 45 minutes, Feldbergstrasse remained closed until around 4.30 a.m.
Incident also in the event room
There was also an incident in the hall, in which a man and a woman tried to step the stage at the end of the Israeli appearance. The two were prevented from doing this. “One of the two people threw in color and a member of the crew was hit,” said a spokesperson. The police duo had been transferred.
Israel had sent singer Yuval Raphael to Basel. The 24-year-old is a survivor of the massacre of Islamic Hamas and other terrorist groups of 7 October 2023. At that time she hid for eight hours under the body of a murdered woman. In her ESC number “New Day Will Rise” she discussed loss and hope. She was second behind the JJ of Austria.
Source: Krone
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