Isolated clashes occurred on Saturday morning during protests against the AfD federal party conference in Erfurt. Police reported that two journalists were injured by bottle throwing in the area of Straße des Friedens, and investigations into the incident have been launched. In related reports, the online portal “Apollo” stated that three of its employees had been assaulted. Police intervened using pepper spray against violent protesters.
According to official sources, approximately 25,000 people participated in demonstrations and blockades within the Thuringian capital by lunchtime. Whether the expected total of 50,000 attendees would be reached remains uncertain. Despite the protests, the protesters’ overarching goal-to prevent or delay the party conference-failed, as the delegate meeting proceeded as scheduled.
While initial blockades on the A71 have begun to clear, significant traffic disruptions are still being experienced throughout the region. To ensure the security of the party conference, around 6,000 officers from the Thuringian police force are deployed for the duration of the weekend.
