Protests continued for the third night in a row in the east Germany town of Heidenau, near Dresden as right-wing and far-left activists clashed outside a newly opened refugee shelter.

Police used batons and pepper spray to break up fights and two officers and another person were reportedly hurt. More then 30 police officers have been injured in the nightly protests since 21 August when right-wing protesters threw stones and firecrackers and a security zone has now been set up around the shelter inside a disused hardware store.

About 300 refugees have so far arrived in Heidenau and politicians from all major parties have spoken up in support of the refugee shelter. A speaker for Angela Merkel condemned the attacks as 'repulsive' and Minister of Justice Heiko Maas responded to the violence saying there was zero tolerance for xenophobia or racism.

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