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German government harshly condemns right-wing riots in front of asylum shelter near Dresden

Associated Press
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In this Aug. 21, 2015 photo police stand beside demonstrators outside a former DYI market that has been converted into a shelter for asylum seekers in Heidenau, south of Dresden, eastern Germany, as dozens of people block the road to stop the migrants from moving in. (Arno Burgi/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this Aug. 21, 2015 photo police stand beside demonstrators outside a former DYI market that has been converted into a shelter for asylum seekers in Heidenau, south of Dresden, eastern Germany, as dozens of people block the road to stop the migrants from moving in. (Arno Burgi/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this Aug. 21, 2015 photo police protect a former DYI market that has been converted into a shelter for asylum seekers in Heidenau, south of Dresden, eastern Germany, after massive protests against the acommodation. (Arno Burgi/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

The German government has harshly condemned riots in front of a new asylum shelter near Dresden which led to at least ten injured, most of them police officers.

Justice Minister Heiko Maas wrote on Twitter Saturday that Germany will "never tolerate that people are threatened and attacked in our country."

Maas said authorities will use the "toughness of the rule of law to strike back" against right-wing protesters like those who attacked police Friday night and blocked the road to an asylum shelter in Heidenau to stop migrants from moving in.

German news agency dpa reported the first asylum seekers were only able to move into the home early Saturday after police dispersed the rioters. Up to 600 migrants are expected to find shelter in the former warehouse.