Tens of Thousands Rally in Vienna Against Covid Restrictions

Tens of thousands protested in Vienna on Saturday against pandemic restrictions a day after Austria's government announced a new lockdown and said vaccines would be made compulsory next year.

A 35,000-strong demonstration saw protesters brandish signs with slogans such as "no to vaccination," "enough is enough" or "down with the fascist dictatorship." 

The rally included members of extreme-right groups, including the far-right Freedom Party, the anti-vaccine MFG party and the far-right Identitarians.

Police said several demonstrators were arrested for breaches of coronavirus restrictions and the ban on Nazi symbols.

Some 66% of Austria's population are fully vaccinated against Covid, one of the lowest rates in western Europe. 

Europe is battling a fresh wave of infections and several countries have tightened curbs, with Austria on Friday announcing a nationwide partial lockdown and ruling that vaccination against Covid-19 will be mandatory from February 1 next year.

The 10-day lockdown will start Monday and comes as average daily deaths have tripled in recent weeks and hospitals in heavily hit states have warned that their intensive care units are reaching capacity.