ABOUT 300 people were arrested on Saturday when far-right activists stormed the Reichstag in Berlin following a massive rally in the German capital against coronavirus restrictions.

As many as 38,000 gathered for the demonstration after attempts by the city authorities to ban it were overturned by a court following a legal challenge.

Far-right activists and anti-vaxxers were among those gathered; at least one Nazi flag was seen.

Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “Nazi symbols as well as reichsburger and imperial German flags have no place in the German Bundestag.”

Germany has recorded 242,000 cases of Covid-19 and 9,297 deaths during the outbreak.

Last week Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a minimum €50 (£45) fine for those not wearing face masks when required to do so. 

Police tried to impose mandatory mask-wearing and social-distancing orders on the Berlin crowd but had to bring an end to the demonstration as participants refused to comply.

Minor scuffles broke out and the police mobilised water cannons to disperse the crowds. “Unfortunately, we have no other option,” Berlin police said at the time.

“We’ve approached the leader of the demonstration and informed him that his assembly will be dissolved by the police. All the measures taken so far have not led to compliance with the conditions.”