Before the start of a demonstration by the xenophobic Pegida group on German Unity Day, an officer read out the assembly regulations – something which event organizers usually do. He said the reason for this was a problem with Pegida’s loudspeaker, and that he was “happy” to do it. At the end of the briefing, the police said to the thousands of Pegida supporters: “We wish you a successful day!”, a statement which demonstrators greeted with applause and the chant “One, two, three, thank you police!” Police later issued a statement on Monday explaining that the officer’s words “do not reflect our philosophy and will be subject to an investigation,” adding that the police had a “duty of neutrality”. “We regard the verbal announcement and the use of the whistle as a form of expression,” the police statement said. It added that as there was no danger posed or any threat to the security of the event, the police and city authorities decided not to intervene.

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