Coronavirus in Germany: No, the police did not arrest a Santa Claus for not wearing a mask<

For opponents of the health pass and measures aimed at stemming the Covid-19 epidemic, an unacceptable milestone has been reached in recent days in Germany. A Santa Claus was arrested there by the police… because he was not wearing a mask.

In any case, this is what a number of Internet users claim, relaying the same sequence, like Florian Philippot, president of the Patriot movement: "The German police are arresting Father Christmas manu militari in the middle of the street because he don't wear a mask! The covidists are out of humanity! How can we make this country, in the process of returning before our eyes to its old demons, an ally? ! »

We see, in a public square, police officers chatting in German for about thirty seconds with a man dressed in a Santa Claus costume. The latter is then escorted, hands behind his back, by the police. The scene arouses boos from the public, which redouble in intensity when the costumed man, who visibly refuses to move forward, finally finds himself carried by two of the agents.

FAKE OFF

This video is not only a great success in France: it is also relayed on social networks with a caption written in English. In particular by a surfer who had published it on Monday December 13 in the evening, saying: “No Christmas this year! German police have arrested Santa Claus. »

@warnermybeloved @sixcrvws no bc im in love

— Jo Tue Jul 27 13:33:32 +0000 2021

Contacted by 20 Minutes, this Twitter user indicates "having received it from a friend" and specifies that the sequence was filmed "in a Christmas market [in the Land of] Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania over the weekend ".

In fact, the police of this federal state published a press release on Tuesday detailing the circumstances of this arrest … which had no connection with the non-wearing of the mask. "This Monday [December 13], rallies took place in Stralsund, Ribnitz-Damgarten and Bergen auf Rügen, which led to police interventions", indicates this text in the preamble, while the demonstrations of opponents of the restrictions sanitary facilities have multiplied in the country in recent weeks despite the ban on public gatherings, as reported by our colleagues from DW.

A Santa Claus who was not hired by the local Christmas market

“Around 6 p.m., about 65 people carrying signs and candles gathered in the old market in Stralsund without announcing themselves. These people were visibly expressing their opinions against the current anti-Covid measures and against compulsory vaccination […]. The police officers from the Stralsund and Grimmen police stations noted the identities of the people present, […] an undeclared [regrouping] constituting for its leader an offense under the law on gatherings, ”continues the press release.

The local police then evoke the specific case of the man at the heart of the viral video: “Among those present, there was also a person dressed as Santa Claus. The police were also surprised to see that Santa Claus was breaking the law and further expressing his opinion through a poster. The 47-year-old, from Stralsund, was clearly a player in the rally. He was not hired as Santa Claus at the Christmas market in this town. »

And the police added, about "this man [...] already suspected of having committed several violations of the law on gatherings": "The latter refused to give his name and therefore had to be accompanied to the radio patrol car to establish his identity […]. As part of the further investigation, a complaint was filed against the 47-year-old German for suspected resistance to officers and insults. Once the identity of the man was known, he was released around 7:15 p.m. and is now free again. »