In Warsaw, Polish Independence Day celebrations turned violent for the third year in a row following an attack on a left-wing squat by a group of far-right youths.<br /><br />It’s the third year in a row the march broke down into running battles in the middle of Warsaw between rioters throwing rocks and petrol bombs and police using rubber bullets, truncheons and pepper spray.<br /><br />Part of the crowd set a fire outside the Russian embassy – a symbol for some Poles of repression during soviet rule.<br /><br />Before the violence broke out at Monday’s march, demonstraters chanted: “God, honour, fatherland!” and waved the red-and-white national flag.<br /><br />“I believe that Polishness is under threat,” said one marcher, Grzegorz, who said he was 30. “The Polish government is incompetent and a threat to Polishness.”<br /><br />Another protester, who gave his name as Mateusz, said he had some to “manifest my patriotism.”<br /><br />Police made several arrests. Five officers were taken to hospital, according to local media.
