Left on the attack

2nd December 2011

An investigation is underway after allegations that a number of anti-fascist websites and internet forums are promoting and encouraging violent behaviour.

According to Fakt, Human Rights Ombudsman Irena Lipowicz released an official statement earlier this week which said the investigation would be looking to see whether sites such as Antifa Poland were actively inciting brutality.

Recent reports by Rzeczpospolita claim that; “Anarchists and leftists are proud of their violent attacks and the fact they beat up people suspected of having right-wing sympathies. They happily exchange information about various demonstrations, which they intend to break up and share tactics on how to keep fighting with the police.”

November 11 witnessed riots during Warsaw’s Independence Day march as leftists clashed with the far-right, which featured members of the National Radical Camp (ONR) and All Polish Youth (MW). In total 210 people were arrested by police including 92 Germans.

Rzeczpospolita claims that one post on the site’s forum describes a woman who was beaten up who had “close-cropped hair and a bomber jacket”. It goes on to add how some were bragging that they beat up three men just for “looking like nationalists”.