Following the AfD’s federal party congress in Erfurt, both city officials and security authorities reported a positive assessment of the weekend’s proceedings. Mayor Andreas Horn (CDU) stated on Sunday that the city had prepared meticulously for the event over several months. He concluded that the concepts devised by the municipality and the police successfully ensured a peaceful and calm weekend, characterizing Erfurt’s efforts as setting “a sign for a vibrant democracy.”
Police President and Operations Leader Thomas Quittenbaum confirmed that the operational objectives had been met, emphasizing that such success would not have been possible without support from other regions. He declared that the deployment concept was ultimately “100 percent successful.”
The party congress on Saturday was accompanied by large-scale protests, although most demonstrators were no longer present on Sunday. In total across the weekend, over 30 officially registered assemblies took place in Erfurt. Simultaneously, large public events drew crowds: about 15,000 people attended a Roland Kaiser concert on Friday, and around 12,500 visitors saw a Clueso concert on Saturday at Domplatz. Police deployment efforts Saturday were concentrated heavily at locations including Gothaer Platz, Binderslebener Landstraße, and along the routes of the B4 and A71 highway, where roadblocks, rappelling stunts, and temporary closures occurred.
According to police estimates, roughly 10,000 people participated in the blockade actions. Cumulatively, up to as many as 31,000 individuals took part in the various gatherings, including a peak of 15,000 participants at the DGB assembly on the exhibition grounds. Despite the ongoing protests, the federal party congress was able to begin according to schedule at 10 AM Saturday.
On Sunday, the police described the operational course as “predominantly peaceful.” Eleven police officers sustained minor injuries during the deployment. By midday Sunday, authorities had documented 65 crimes and 13 administrative offenses. These mainly involved property damage, assaults, and breaches of public assembly laws; investigation procedures were initiated in every case.
Significant incidents included suspicion of breaching public peace following an attempted breakthrough by approximately 250 people near Frienstedt, as well as isolated attacks targeting media personnel and live streamers. Furthermore, police seized several drones that were operated despite being within a prohibited zone. Authorities also noted a disruption to the party congress caused by Bluetooth speakers. Finally, the agencies announced they would “carefully review” allegations of police violence related to the weekend’s events.
