Chemnitz protests: Thousands attend free anti-racism concert Published duration 3 September 2018 Related Topics Europe migrant crisis

image copyright AFP image caption The German rock band Die Toten Hosen performed at the concert

Around 65,000 people have attended a free concert against racism in the eastern German city of Chemnitz.

The town has seen far-right rallies and counter-demonstrations after two migrants were identified as suspects in the fatal stabbing of a 35-year-old German man late last month.

Punk and hip hop bands performed on Monday evening under the slogan "there are more of us", in response to the far-right slogan "we are the people".

Many people chanted "Nazis out".

Organisers had to change the venue to accommodate all those who wanted to attend.

The case sparked national outrage and was seized upon by far-right groups as part of their anti-migrant campaign.

image copyright Reuters image caption Sixty-five thousand people were estimated to have attended

The concert began on Monday evening with a minute's silence for the victim of the stabbing attack.

Soon after, a singer from the group Kraftklub addressed the crowd.

"We're not naive. We're not under the illusion that you hold a concert and then the world is saved," he said. "But sometimes it's important to show that you're not alone."

At the same time the concert was taking place, local police announced that they had arrested a man suspected of attacking a journalist during far-right demonstrations on Saturday.

image copyright Getty Images image caption Many at the concert displayed anti-Nazi signs, while some chanted "Nazis out"

But the concert was not without its opponents.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was criticised by some conservatives for posting the event to his Facebook page, as one of the bands performing had previously been prosecuted for advocating far-left violence.