German riot police clash with protesters hoping to block far-right AfD conference
Summary
Thousands of protesters and riot police clashed in Erfurt, Germany, as opponents tried to stop the far-right AfD party’s national conference. The AfD held the event on the 100th anniversary of a Nazi conference, causing controversy, but its leaders were expected to be re-elected.Key Facts
- About 20,000 protesters gathered in Erfurt to block roads and stop AfD delegates from reaching their conference.
- Protesters used sit-ins, glued themselves to tram tracks, and abseiled from bridges to disrupt the event.
- Around 600 AfD delegates attended; about 540 arrived before 5 a.m. and the conference started on time.
- Police reported mostly peaceful protests with fewer than 100 offenses, mainly property damage like graffiti.
- The conference date matched the 100th anniversary of a Nazi party event in nearby Weimar.
- Critics say the timing was meant to provoke, while AfD denied this and criticized historical weaponization.
- Opponents accuse AfD of racist and anti-Muslim policies and minimizing Nazi crimes.
- Some government ministers joined the protests, and demonstrators emphasized preventing a repeat of Nazi-era history.
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