Demonstrations Against AfD Youth Wing Spark Large-Scale Protests and Clashes in Gießen
A massive demonstration against the planned formation of a youth wing of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party resulted in approximately 25,000 participants converging in Gießen on Saturday, according to police estimates. While authorities initially characterized the gatherings as “largely peaceful” a significant undercurrent of violence and unrest marred the day’s events.
Early morning disruption began around 6:30 AM with blockades erected on state roads, federal highways and autobahn routes surrounding the city. A particularly disruptive action involved approximately 500 protesters who, around 8:00 AM, abandoned two permitted demonstrations to occupy the Konrad-Adenauer Bridge, severely impacting traffic flow. Numerous reports confirmed instances of projectiles, including stones, bottles and pyrotechnics, being thrown at police officers, prompting a response involving pepper spray and batons.
The situation escalated further around 8:30 AM when a group of approximately 2,000 protesters blocked the B 49 near Bergwerkswald. Police deployed water cannons to disperse the blockade, underlining the increasing tension between demonstrators and law enforcement.
Beyond the permitted demonstrations, incidents of vandalism occurred in the vicinity of Lahnau-Atzbach, where several vehicles were damaged, prompting investigations and the initiation of criminal proceedings. Critically, a separate investigation was launched following an assault on a member of German parliament (Bundestag) affiliated with the AfD. The individual was reportedly physically attacked and sustained injuries, with a suspect swiftly apprehended; authorities are currently investigating the motivation behind the assault.
Throughout the afternoon, attempts were made by individuals and groups, exhibiting considerable force, to breach police cordons in several locations, including beneath the Konrad-Adenauer Bridge and near the Schlachthofstrasse, with individuals attempting to push towards the Messehalle. This required the immediate application of force to regain control and again, saw the deployment of water cannons.
While police reported ten officers sustained minor injuries during the day’s events, they acknowledged a lack of confirmed information regarding potential injuries sustained by protesters.
The scale and intensity of the protests, coupled with the documented acts of vandalism and violence, are likely to spark a broader political debate about the rising extremism within Germany and the permissible boundaries of protest action. The assault on the Bundestag member, in particular, raises concerns about the potential for escalating political violence and the responsibility of authorities to ensure the safety of elected officials. The ongoing investigations aim to ascertain the full scope of illegal actions undertaken throughout the day and to identify participants involved.
