Demonstrations: Protests against AfD: MP injured in police operation

Thousands of people demonstrated in Riesa, Saxony, against the AfD’s federal party conference. The protesters arrived early in the morning on buses and trains and blocked important access roads. The mood was heated at times, with demonstrators and police confronting each other in many places. Six officers were slightly injured, and by the afternoon the police had registered 34 crimes – including bodily harm, assault on law enforcement officers, coercion and damage to property.

Left MP injured during protest

According to his party, the Saxon left-wing politician Nam Duy Nguyen was beaten by a police officer during the protests. He was temporarily unconscious. A companion of the state parliament member was also hit in the face and injured, the party leadership in Berlin said.

Nguyen filed a complaint. “It is worrying how brutally the police acted against the demonstrators today in order to clear the way for the AfD,” he told the German Press Agency. “The fact that she also acted so ruthlessly against parliamentary observers crosses every red line.”

Saxony’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster announced rapid clarification. “This case was investigated immediately and an investigation has been initiated,” the CDU politician told the German Press Agency. “It is completely clear that this incident needs to be given very special attention as part of the operational evaluation.” Individual situations in Riesa required difficult police operations, explained Schuster. “There were various conflicts and heated situations in which the police enforced order with robust action,” said the minister.

Criticism of police operations

Even before this case became known, there had been criticism of the police’s deployment. The “Resist” alliance accused the police of not allowing demonstrators to enter the rally – pepper spray and batons were used.

However, the police’s assessment of the operation was positive. “We have achieved our goals: the party conference is taking place. We have thus fulfilled our obligation to protect party events regardless of their political orientation,” said Dresden police chief Lutz Rodig. At the same time, the police made the protest possible within sight and hearing distance, thereby protecting the right to freedom of assembly.

The police in Riesa had been on a large-scale operation since 3 a.m. and were supported by the federal police and state police from ten federal states.

AfD party conference starts two hours later

The party conference was only able to begin at midday, two hours late. According to their own statements, various members of the Federal Executive Board arrived early on buses under police escort without any problems. Other AfD representatives were stuck in traffic due to blockades. According to party circles, the car of party leader Alice Weidel was also stopped by demonstrators. In Riesa, around 600 delegates decided on the AfD election program and officially elected Weidel as candidate for chancellor – unanimously and to thunderous applause.

Thousands of protesters in front of the conference hall

By midday, the square in front of the AfD party conference hall in Riesa was filled for a central counter-rally. In sub-zero temperatures and winter weather, chants were heard again and again and live music was played on a stage. The organizers spoke of 12,000 demonstrators, the police assumed there were around 10,000 throughout the city.

Situation tense at times

The situation in the city was tense at times. The police cleared sit-ins in the morning – for example at an intersection leading to the entrance to the B169.

According to a dpa reporter, pepper spray was also used to drive out surrounded police cars. Demonstrators had unscrewed the tire valves of several police cars and police cars were daubed with anti-police slogans. In some places pyrotechnics flew.

According to the organizers, no actions or demonstrations are planned for Sunday, when the AfD federal party conference continues. The police say they are preparing to operate until Sunday evening.