Björn Höcke’s car is said to have driven into a demonstration – riots in Jena

An incident apparently occurred during a demonstration against the appearance of Thuringia’s AfD leader Björn Höcke. Several witnesses told the star, that a vehicle in which Höcke was supposed to have been sitting drove into a registered demonstration in order to break it up. Apparently several people were hit by the car, but fortunately no one was injured in the scene.

Demonstration against Björn Höcke in Jena: Car drives into crowd

Höcke was announced on Tuesday as part of the panel for a citizen dialogue, together with the two AfD state parliament candidates for the constituencies in Jena. A broad protest alliance was formed a few hours before the event. Several demonstrations were announced around the “LISA” community center in the Lobeda district, and there were also individual sit-ins to block Höcke’s way into the building. The police initially broke up the blockades without resorting to violence.

According to the police, instead of the registered number of 1,000 demonstrators, almost twice as many people protested against the appearance of the right-wing extremist AfD state leader. The incident is said to have occurred when police tried to bring Höcke into the district center via a side entrance.

Juso leader Philipp Türmer witnessed the alleged incident. He told the star: “I was on the grounds of the registered assembly when the car in which Höcke was sitting suddenly drove out of a side street at high speed directly into the crowd. The demonstrators had to jump out of the way, several were hit by the SUV. The car drove into the assembly!”

Jena police do not comment on the incident

Several other witnesses confirmed the scene to the starAccording to Türmer, Höcke’s bodyguards tried to force their way through the demonstrators. At first, some police officers also helped by dragging demonstrators out of the way, said Türmer. “When that didn’t work, the bodyguards escorted him back into the car and drove away – like in an action film.”

The Jena police department does not confirm the events described by the eyewitnesses. It is not known whether a car drove into the crowd. Höcke’s entourage saw the road being blocked and then turned around, a spokesman explained. However, photos and videos that were apparently taken seconds after the scenes described show Höcke’s car in the middle of the demonstrators. It can also be seen how violently the police acted against the protesters, even though the gathering had been officially registered.

“The police seemed overwhelmed and reacted unprofessionally in this situation. The security concept did not work,” Türmer states.

Protesters prevented Höcke’s appearance

According to the police report, a total of twelve criminal offenses and one administrative offense were recorded during the demonstrations. It is not known whether or how many people were injured. Höcke did not appear afterwards.

“Member of the State Parliament Höcke’s participation had to be cancelled at short notice due to the large number of people and the confusing situation on site,” the police explained in a press release.

The star Björn Höcke himself was asked about the incidents. The request for a statement remained unanswered.

Höcke will be the AfD’s top candidate in the state elections in Thuringia on September 1. According to surveys, the party’s regional association, which is classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as definitely right-wing extremist, is currently the strongest political force in the state.