There's going to be a riot!!!

ryan7783 · May 4, 2008

kinda funny to think they plan this every year - as if it is some big party that all the police are invited to. There are always those people that show up to a party and trash the house but everyone expects it so it's ok. and at the end of the event, everyone waves and says "see ya next year".

Mr Tripod · May 4, 2008

You have captured the moments and atmosphere nicely

Thanks for sharing.

RebelTasha · May 4, 2008

Great pictures you were very brave....

Slaphead · May 4, 2008

OK, the story.

This year Helvetiaplatz (the place that this "event" nomally takes place) was guarded better than Fort Knox. However I'd noted that there were still 3 potential ways in. This year the rioters had chosen to come down from the top of Langstrasse - which was a bit of bummer as I'd positioned myself by one of the other entry points. As a result the first shots I got were of the police already responding with salvos of rubber bullets.

The police were steadily able to drive the rioters back up Langstrasse which meant that the whole thing was contained really within one long and relatively narrow street. This made it exceptionally difficult to get position. You could use the side streets to get behind the police, behind the rioters or slap bang in between the two factions.

Of course the latter option would have provided the best photo opportunities, but there was a problem with this - you ended up right in the middle of the crossfire - rubbers bullets, water cannons and gas canisters from the police - bottles, home made smoke grenades and a variety of other small low yield explosives coming from the rioters. At this point I noted a couple of other photographers who had prepared themselves somewhat better than me as they were wearing cycling helmets and industrial strength goggles (you do not want to be hit by a rubber bullet in the eye - that would be the end of your eyesight). This explains the lack of photos of the rioters doing something.

Now, I'd just positioned myself behind the rioters when an "Amokfahrer" (somebody who goes postal with a car instead of with a gun) gave it full gas right into the crowd in front of me. I was only about 2 meters away from this when it happened and was knocked back by somebody who had bounced off the car - fortunately he was OK, a bit shaken and bruised but quickly back on his feet. I didn't get any photos of this as my main concern was over this chap. The car carried on for about 200 meters taking out anything in its way, injuring several people and severely injuring one other. Alex_B I fear this where most of the injured came from and unfortunately not all were rioters - I know of at least one other photographer caught up in this mess.

After this event the police decided enough was enough and came down heavy. I carried on working my way through the side streets but ended up in street where the police were blocking both sides. I turned back to find another group of police had blocked the way I came in. End of story. I was now trapped between 3 groups of police with about 200 other people - they then moved together and bunched us up letting no one out.

After about half an hour they started pulling us out one by one and from what I could see frisking, handcuffing and arresting everyone. At this point I'd kind of resigned myself to a night in the cells. However when it came to my turn I was not dealt with by police wearing balaclavas and stormtrooper outfits but with a couple of very polite plain clothes police. They simply asked me to turn out my pockets, asked me for ID and what I was doing there, and wanted to look at the photos I'd taken. One of the police commented that she thought some of the photos were really good but unfortunately they couldn't use them to identify any of the rioters. Then the police woman escorted me out of the area and wished me a good evening. I think speaking polite bad german with a thick english accent may have helped ;-)

No photos of this last bit - I've heard that the police don't take kindly to this and you might end up with camera in more than several pieces.

Thats it really

Cheers

TamiyaGuy · May 4, 2008

Wow, seemed like really intense stuff. I never knew people would just plough through a street in a car like that, I just guess it shows their "passion", for want of a better phrase

.

Incredible story, I just hope it hasn't put you off taking these extraordinary photographs!!!! Great work!

Slaphead · May 4, 2008

TamiyaGuy said:
Wow, seemed like really intense stuff. I never knew people would just plough through a street in a car like that, I just guess it shows their "passion", for want of a better phrase .

In this instance I don't believe it was passion. I think the driver panicked and floored it. The driver was driving a BMW (BMWs are still pretty much considered a symbol of general wealth) which was being absolutely pelted with bottles by the rioters. He had stopped by the junction of Langstrasse but by this time there were rioters in front and behind him. Quite frankly he had nowhere to go, then panicked and went for it. If this is the case then I have a certain amount of sympathy for him - he was scared, as I would be in the same situation.

But then again, given he was a Zürcher, he should have known about the riot - it happens every year on exactly the same date in pretty much the same place - and perhaps should not have been attempting to drive where he was.

Difficult one to judge.

Cheers

taracor · May 4, 2008

That's a helluva story man, I have to congratulate you again. Great photos, and seems like it was a pretty memorable experiance. Makes me wish I had flown over to Zürich.

Great job Slaphead!

TamiyaGuy · May 5, 2008

Slaphead said:
In this instance I don't believe it was passion. I think the driver panicked and floored it. The driver was driving a BMW (BMWs are still pretty much considered a symbol of general wealth) which was being absolutely pelted with bottles by the rioters. He had stopped by the junction of Langstrasse but by this time there were rioters in front and behind him. Quite frankly he had nowhere to go, then panicked and went for it. If this is the case then I have a certain amount of sympathy for him - he was scared, as I would be in the same situation.

But then again, given he was a Zürcher, he should have known about the riot - it happens every year on exactly the same date in pretty much the same place - and perhaps should not have been attempting to drive where he was.

Difficult one to judge.

Cheers

Ah, right. That complicates the situation a bit... :meh: Well, if that is the case, I can't exactly blame him; the riot seems like a really quite scary place to be.

That said, you must be unbelievably brave to go there, so another congratulation to you! :mrgreen:

taracor · May 5, 2008

Yeah, no doubt, my car was surrounded by a mass of people who were pelting me with bottles, I'd probably freak out too.

He probably thought if he just gunned it, people would get out of the way.

Slaphead · May 8, 2008

Ok an update on this. I take back what I said about the guy panicking - what he did was 100% intentional.

I've found some footage on a swiss news site showing this happening - It is truely horrifying. I'm just out of the frame to the left.

Please be warned this is not nice viewing so I've posted the link in such a way so that people cannot accidently click on it - You've got to copy it and paste it into your web browsers address bar.

Moderators - Please edit or delete post if you consider it unsuitable

"http://www.20min.ch/news/zuerich/story/12051041"