AfD party conference - Activists attempt to block AfD party conference
In Essen, on Saturday morning, activists tried to prevent the arrival of delegates to the AfD-Federal Party Congress at the Grugahalle. They occupied streets and intersections around the event venue. Several hundred people sat on the highways at an autobahn ramp. A spokesperson for the blockade action "resist" spoke of "thousands" of participants and participants.
The police spoke of "thousands" of demonstrators. "There are no highways blocked," a spokesperson emphasized.
The party congress is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. The police are on site with a large contingent. Water cannon vehicles were also on standby.
Several federal parliamentarians reported that they were picked up by the police from their hotels and taken to the event location. Some delegates reached the Grugahalle completely undisturbed on foot. Demonstrators called out to participants of the AfD party congress and journalists from a bridge: "There is no right to Nazi propaganda."
A larger group of people tried to overcome a police barrier. Forces of a hundred-strong unit prevented this with the use of pepper spray and batons, according to the press office. It was initially not known if there were injuries on the side of the demonstrators. Several ambulances were called, said a police spokesperson.
Demonstrators posted themselves in a shopping street near the Grugahalle in front of a bakery where AfD politicians were present. Forces of a hundred-strong unit had extracted the politicians, said a police spokesperson.
In Essen's Grugahalle, the AfD is holding a Federal Party Congress on Saturday and Sunday. Up to 100,000 people are expected for counter-demonstrations and events throughout the weekend. The police have several thousand officers on duty. In addition to police officers and policewomen from North Rhine-Westphalia, officers from Bremen, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony were also visible on the streets on Friday morning.
Most and largest protests will take place on Saturday. A large demonstration is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at the main station. Participants will then march through the city to the Grugahalle.
A peaceful protest had already taken place on Friday evening under the motto "Bass against Hass." According to the police, around 5,000 people participated in the rave demo.
At a central gathering in the afternoon, among others, Essen's Mayor Thomas Kufen (CDU), Evonik Board Chairman Christian Kullmann, and the President of the Synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany, Anna-Nicole Heinrich, are scheduled to speak. From the late afternoon, a music program is planned.
Left-wing groups had announced that they wanted to prevent the roughly 600 delegates from reaching the congress venue. The police had emphasized in advance that they would not tolerate a blockade of the party congress and would ensure an unobstructed course for the AfD event.
The AfD intends to elect a new board at the party congress on Saturday and Sunday. The city of Essen had been looking for ways to prevent the AfD party congress for months - but was ultimately unsuccessful in court.
Police news ticker
- Despite the blockade attempts by activists, some delegates managed to reach the Grugahalle for the AfD party conference on foot.
- The police expressed concerns about potential disruptions to food supplies due to the blockade actions around the event venue.
- On Sunday, several parties, including the Federal Party, are scheduled to hold their conferences simultaneously in North Rhine-Westphalia, attracting thousands of attendees.
- During the demonstrations, the AfD's electoral vehicle was targeted, causing minor damage, according to party officials.
- The blockade group, "resist," reported the arrival of over 10,000 participants joining their efforts against the AfD-Federal Party Congress.
- The police are closely monitoring the situation, and any vehicles found obstructing traffic or causing disruptions to food deliveries will be towed away and subject to fines.
