Seven people have died in a fire set during riots across Zongongia. The dead include three anti-government protesters, a security guard, two policemen and one pro-monarchy counter-protester. The fire took place in a building which used to house the Eirian Embassy, before Eiria withdrew diplomatic representation from Zongongia after an alleged kidnapping attempt of Benjamin Robinson, a baby. The fire was allegedly deliberately started by pro-monarchy counter-protesters.
The situation in Zongongia began to escalate yesterday evening as pro-monarchy protesters took to the streets to counter-protest the anti-government demonstrations. The two sets of protesters quickly clashed, with fights breaking out. Police attempted to separate the two groups, however were not wholly successful. There have been upwards of 3,000 arrests since the demonstrations began; with an unknown number of hospitalisations and other injuries, as many protesters are avoiding hospital out of fear of arrest.
Pro-monarchy protesters are alleged to have set fire to the Eirian Embassy, which was empty except for one security guard who was killed in the fire. Pro-monarchy groups have been claiming that the allegations of an attempted kidnapping were fabricated by the Eirians, who they claim are “secretly funding” the riots in order to overthrow the Zongongian government. Images of pro-monarchy groups burning Eirian flags have circulated online; though King Osvald has called on the groups to cease this activity.
Meanwhile in the historical town of Havkantsborg, where protesters were reported to have been patrolling the medieval walls and “preparing for a siege”, the preparations have paid off after the government ordered a small military detachment to retake the town using “non-lethal force”. After the military approached the town, they were bombarded by various items including “water balloons, stink bombs, rocks, cow manure, and dry ice”. The military was forced to retreat and protesters retain control of the town.
The situation continues.
