A small town in the state of Saxony has reported a second night of violence between residents and migrants. The town has repeatedly been the scene of such confrontations in recent months.

According to police reports, 20 refugees and 80 right-wing extremists got involved in verbal and physical attacks overnight on Wednesday. The two parties reportedly hurled bottles at each other.

About 100 police officers tried to break up the confrontation, but also found themselves on the receiving end of the violence.

Criminal police have reportedly launched an investigation focused on migrants causing bodily harm after throwing glass bottles at the officers.

"The altercation was started by the asylum seekers," a police statement read.

The previous evening, a 32-year-old local had sustained injuries after being hit by a bottle.

Troubled region

Located close to the Czech border, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) east of the city of Dresden, Bautzen has seen repeated clashes between asylum seekers and the radical right, underscoring the growing unrest over Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy.

An arson attack at a local refugee home at the beginning of the year highlighted how the region struggles in coping with the influx of migrants in Germany. Some of the bystanders at the refugee home fire had tried to stop emergency services from accessing the scene.

(DW)