Germany’s Pegida Anti-Islam Movement Vows to Continue Protests in Berlin and Munich

Lutz Bachmann, leader of the anti-Islamic Pegida movement
and Pegida spokewoman Kathrin Oertel give a press
conference in Dresden, eastern Germany

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A planned march in Dresden on Monday night was cancelled but Pegida's leaders say rallies in other German cities will go ahead

The leaders of Germany’s Pegida anti-Islam movement have vowed to continue their protests after they were forced to cancel a march in Dresden planned for Monday night because of an Islamist terror threat.

Pegida rallies are to go ahead as planned on Monday night in other cities across Germany, including Berlin, Munich and Düsseldorf.

Police are prepared for large crowds after the Dresden march was called off, and possible clashes between Pegida supporters and opponents at counter-rallies.

In Dresden, police took the unusual step of banning all public gatherings for 24 hours, after what they said was a “concrete threat” against the planned march.

German intelligence reportedly intercepted messages from jihadists about a plan for assassins to mingle with protesters. According to Pegida leaders, the target was the movement’s founder, Lutz Bachmann. » | Justin Huggler, Berlin | Monday, January 19, 2015