The initially peaceful demonstration in the heart of the Polish capital turned chaotic and violent, leading to the detention of 55 individuals, Marcin Kierwiński said.
He added that there was a clear distinction between peaceful protesters and a "small group of hooligans, provocateurs who attacked the police."
The protest began outside the Prime Minister's Office and moved toward the parliament building, where clashes erupted between some protesters and the police force, according to officials.
Kierwiński said the violence began at around 2 p.m., when paving stones and bottles were thrown at officers. In response, police used tear gas to control the crowd.
Kierwiński condemned the violence, stressing that the police acted professionally and were focused on ensuring the safety of all participants, including the opposition politicians present.
As the protest was formally concluded by its organizers at around 3 p.m., the aftermath saw more people detained for aggressive behavior, nearly half of whom were under the influence of alcohol, some with high blood alcohol levels, according to police reports.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP, IAR