AfD: Violent protests against Tino Chrupalla in Hamburg

Violent riots broke out in Hamburg during protests against an AfD election campaign event with party leader Tino Chrupalla. There were minor injuries and two people were taken into custody, said a police spokesman.

According to police reports, a total of 3,300 people took to the streets, mostly peacefully, against the AfD at the three protest rallies.

When demonstrators tried to block AfD participants from entering the Friedrich-Ebert-Halle in the Heimfeld district, the police used pepper spray against the blockers. A water cannon was also used several times. Several officers and demonstrators suffered eye irritation, a spokesman said. Six police officers were treated on site and were able to continue their duties.

Hours before the start of the AfD election campaign event, hundreds of demonstrators had demonstrated in the area around the hall against the shift to the right and racism. Posters read “Never again is now” or “We are the firewall”. “Fuck AfD” was written in large letters on a wall of the Friedrich-Ebert-Gymnasium, for which the hall serves as an auditorium. Another banner read “Our school is colorful.”

The police had cordoned off a large area of ​​the venue and were on duty with a large contingent. According to observers, when some demonstrators tried to break through the barriers, batons were used.

In the hall, Chrupalla sharply attacked the federal government’s migration policy in his speech to 650 listeners. He called the package of measures demanded by the Union, which, among other things, provides for stricter border controls and the rejection of refugees without valid documents, “a purely election campaign maneuver.” There is only a policy change with the AfD.

Chrupalla warned Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz to continue rejecting cooperation with the AfD because “those who want to build firewalls will burn behind these walls.” The other parties were “currently keeping the AfD away from power in an undemocratic manner,” he said and promised: “We will govern sooner or later.”

Just over a week ago, an appearance by the AfD’s co-federal chairwoman and candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, in Hamburg’s town hall caused protests. According to police reports, a good 16,000 people took to the streets. At that time, the demonstrations were largely peaceful.

Watch the video above: Alice Weidel takes part in the candidate check on RTL. The AfD’s top candidate talks about her party’s tax plans and the new US President Donald Trump.