European cities witnessed protests opposing COVID-19 vaccines passports and other requirements on Saturday. Demonstrations were seen in prominent cities like London, Stockholm, Athens, Paris and Helsinki.

The demonstrations in France attracted hundreds of people, who aimed a rollback of the new COVID-19 pass introduced on Monday. Media reports also suggest that other cities in France saw similar protests.

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France’s COVID-19 pass will restrict those who have not been vaccinated against the disease so far. The restrictions will span across sports events, domestic flights, cinemas, bars and other public areas and services, according to reports from Associated Press.

Frihetsrorelsen, also called the Freedom Movement, saw nearly 3,000 people gather in Sweden’s national capital Stockholm. The protests, which oppose a vaccine pass that allow people to attend events with 50 individuals or more, were organised in the main square of Stockholm.

Swedish media reported that representatives from the neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement attended the action with a banner. Police closely monitor the group, which has been associated with violent behavior at demonstrations, according to reports from Associated Press.

A similar protest happened in Goteborg, Sweden’s second-largest city, with about 1,000 people gathering.

Media reports suggest that authorities in Finland were allowed to use “extensive and full measures” before the holiday season in order to curb the spread of coronavirus’ omicron variant. 

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The restrictions included limiting or prohibiting events, moving university classes online, limiting restaurant service and closing venues where people have a higher risk of exposure. The use of vaccine passports was permitted for restaurants.

Police said some 4,000 people marched Saturday through the streets of central Helsinki to protest. A group called World Wide Demonstration organized the demonstration. However, no violence or unrest was reported to law enforcement authorities.

(With AP inputs)