Outside the congress of Germany's right-wing AfD party in Essen city on Saturday clashes between protesters and police left two officers hospitalized. Nearly 1,000 law enforcement officers were mobilized to manage the chaos instigated by thousands of demonstrators attempting to block roads and disrupt the AfD event, attended by around 600 delegates.

 

 

Reports from police indicated that two officers sustained serious injuries when they were kicked in the head by protesters after trying to assist a politician. In addition, seven more officers were injured during the demonstrations. The Essen police described the situation in the Rüttenscheid quarter as rife with disruptive and violent actions, with some protesters resorting to attacking security forces while concealing their identity with hoods. Multiple arrests were made in response to the outbursts of violence.

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The anti-AfD gathering, dubbed "Bass against Hatred," drew in thousands of participants and witnessed tense confrontations as a group of demonstrators attempted to breach a barrier, prompting police to deploy pepper spray and batons to push them back. Masked demonstrators also reportedly engaged in attacks against officers, resulting in several more arrests.

 

The AfD party, asserting its right to hold a congress like any other political entity, declared a substantial increase in membership by 60 percent since January 2023 following its success in the European Parliament election. However, the party's proposal to deport millions of people has sparked concerns among many Germans, who fear a resurgence of Nazi-like ideology. In response to the AfD's electoral gains, a surge in counter-demonstrations has been observed, particularly after the party achieved its best EU election result to date, winning 16 percent of the vote.

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Counter-protesters have rallied against the AfD, with about 20,000 people participating in the latest demonstrations. One protester's sign succinctly summed up the sentiment: "Melt the AfD snowball before it becomes an avalanche."

 

Amid the uproar, AfD co-chief Alice Weidel affirmed the party's resilience, stating, "We will not be intimidated. We are here, and we are here to stay."

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