Up to 400 far-right supporters to meet in Czech Plzen on March 1

Some 300 to 400 supporters of far-right movements will arrive in Plzen for the planned march on Saturday according to the estimates of the West Bohemian police, their representatives told journalists today.

The march may be joined be Slovak extremists. German extremists, on the other hand, are not likely to come, the police said.

Dozens of anarchists are expected to gather outside Plzen’s Grand Synagogue in protest against the neo-Nazi event despite a ban.

Civic associations and Jewish organisations also called on people to demonstrate their opposition against the officially announced march.

The police will monitor the area around the synagogue to prevent possible skirmishes. They repeatedly said today any other gathering was banned in the town’s centre on Saturday and they would intervene against its participants if need be.

One thousand police will be deployed within the security measures related to the march, Jaromir Knize, West Bohemian police deputy head who commands the operation, said.

Police will monitor and operate all activities of the right-wing radicals after the march officially ends, Knize said.

Experts from Bavaria and Saxony are to help their Czech colleagues on March 1. Members of anti-conflict teams will be available, too.

The measures will be similar to those adopted in January and water cannons, armoured carriers and a helicopter will be prepared for a possible intervention.

The march was originally scheduled for January 19, one day after the 66th anniversary of the first transport of Jews from Plzen to concentration camps. The Plzen Town Hall banned the march, but a court later ruled that the ban was not invalid and that the organiser had the right to organise a new march.