DEMONSTRATORS IN STREET; POLICE AND STUDENTS CLASHING; POLICE GUARDING BRITISH EUROPEAN AIRWAYS OFFICES; FIRE IN STREET; POLICE CLEARING STREET.




Initials GL/V/PN/SGM



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Background: A THOUSAND RIOT POLICE FOUGHT FOR THREE HOURS EARLY TODAY (SATURDAY) WITH AN EQUAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO WERE PROTESTING AGAINST THE EXTRADITION FROM THE CITY LAST SUNDAY (27 JULY) OF SEVEN WEST GERMAN ARMY DESERTERS.

NINETY-SIX POLICEMEN AND AT LEAST 25 DEMONSTRATORS WERE INJURED IN THE MOST VIOLENT CLASH IN WEST BERLIN THIS YEAR.

THE DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED LATE ON FRIDAY NIGHT (1 AUGUST) IN THE KURFUERSTENDAMM, ONE OF WEST BERLIN'S MAIN SHOPPING STREET, AND FIGHTING BROKE OUT AROUND MIDNIGHT AT SEVERAL POINTS. SHOUTING "RELEASE THE DESERTERS" THE STUDENTS BOMBARDED POLICE WITH BRICKS AND ROCKS FROM CONSTRUCTION SITES AFTER MOUNTED POLICE HAD CHARGED INTO THE CROWDS WITH DRAWN TRUNCHEONS.

A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS REPORTED TO BE IN SERIOUS CONDITION WITH A FRACTURED SKULL AND A 22-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL WITH A CUT JUGULAR VEIN AFTER CRASHING THROUGH A CAR SHOWROOM WINDOW.

SEVERAL POLICE HORSES WERE INJURED AND 31 POLICE VEHICLES DAMAGED. THREE POLICE STATIONS IN THE AREA WERE SMASHED UP. THE STUDENTS ALSO BUILT BARRICADES AND MADE FIRES IN THE STREET.

ONE TARGET FOR THE DEMONSTRATORS WAS THE OFFICE BUILDING OF BRITISH EUROPEAN AIRWAYS, ALL OF WHOSE WINDOWS WERE SMASHED IN AN EARLIER DEMONSTRATION LAST SUNDAY (27 JULY). THE DESERTERS WERE FLOWN OUT IN A CHARTERED BRITISH AIRLINER.

YESTERDAY (1 AUGUST) THE THREE WESTERN ALLIES -- BRITAIN, FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES, TOLD THE WEST BERLIN CITY GOVERNMENT TO HALT EXTRADITION OF ARMY DESERTERS UNTIL LEGAL POINTS HAVE BEEN CLARIFIED. EARLIER THE SOVIET EMBASSY IN EAST BERLIN HAD PROTESTED TO THE WESTERN ALLIES OVER THE EXTRADITIONS.