Police in Austria faced off against around 10,000 demonstrators during a banned protest against the country's COVID-19 curfew restrictions.

Iran PressEurope: According to the Austrian newspaper Krone, around 15,000 participants were counted, and many of them were not wearing face masks. 

Demonstrators made their way through the city to a rally organized by Austrian right-wing opposition party FPO with some media reports that Gottfried Kussel, who has served 16 years in prison for neo-Nazi-related offenses, also present. 

There were several clashes between demonstrators, counter-protesters, and the police, with law enforcement officials using tear gas to separate the activists on at least one occasion.

The events of the last few weeks have damaged Austria's collective spirit. Thousands of demonstrators have been charged by police, with dozens of arrests made and numerous police officers left injured.

The country aims to lift some of its lockdown measures later this month if COVID-19 cases drop sufficiently. 

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