Security authorities are planning for a major security operation in Erfurt ahead of the AfD federal party conference scheduled for early July. Police anticipate facing a large number of counter-protesters, expecting between 35,000 and 50,000 participants.
According to reports citing internal police documents, the local police force estimates the presence of as many as 2,500 left-wing extremists who may be violent or actively seeking confrontation. While the Thuringian State Police Directorate confirmed the expected scale of the protests, they did not comment on the number of potentially violent participants, citing tactical deployment reasons.
Furthermore, authorities anticipate coordinated blockade actions along the access routes to the fairground. Internal situation assessments now regard the initially planned “worst-case scenario” as a realistic possibility. Consequently, the police are preparing for significant travel disruptions for attendees and a high volume of blockades. The Thuringian police force has stated that they will be supported by operational personnel from across Germany, as well as the Federal Police.
Adding to the level of concern is a post published on the left-wing internet platform Indymedia, which describes Erfurt as “Tag X” and calls for travel to the city, even from abroad. Information gathered by the publication also indicates that the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has informed the AfD parliamentary group about the anticipated security situation. Police are currently reviewing the authenticity and relevance of the call published online.
