Thousands of police were deployed to Erfurt in central Germany as the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party held its biennial national conference. The event in the eastern city coincides with the 100th anniversary of a Nazi Party congress and takes place ahead of September state elections in the ex-communist east, where the AfD could win power at the state level for the first time.
Approximately 20,000 demonstrators from unions, civil society, and left-wing parties flooded the city to disrupt the proceedings. Protesters blocked major roads and disrupted public transport in an attempt to prevent delegates from attending the conference, signaling their concern over echoes from Germany's Nazi past.
Riot police clashed with opponents on the streets, and Thüringen police reported that an AfD constituency office and officers were attacked with paint bombs and fireworks, though they described the protest as legitimate. One of the party's leaders stated that the protesters were protesting against democratic decision-making. The conference is expected to see Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla re-elected as the party's co-leaders.