Two people in critical condition after white supremacist rally in US turns violent

A series of stabbings that broke out during a neo-Nazi rally in California, USA landed seven people in hospital, with at least two in critical condition

Violence broke out resulting in stabbing during a neo-Nazi rally at California's state capitol building
Violence broke out resulting in stabbing during a neo-Nazi rally at California's state capitol building

According to The Sacramento Bee newspaper, the stabbing spree broke out between some 25 neo-Nazis who had permission to protest on the capitol's west steps and more than 150 anarchists and "anti-fascist" counter-protesters, landing seven people in hospital.

The event was staged by a white-supremacist, anti-immigration group called the Traditionalist Worker Party.

After the protest, Traditionalist Worker Party leader Matthew Heimbach said in a statement broadcast by CNN that "the anti-fascists used knives, bottles, bricks and chunks of concrete they broke off a construction site."

Reportedly, a sister organisation, the Golden State Skinheads, said online ahead of the rally that members would "stand our ground if forced to that point."

"When they attacked, our men defended themselves to be able to drive the attackers off," he said.

Emergency responders received a call to the scene just before 20:00 CET.

Seemingly, it is unclear to which group the wounded belonged.