At a demonstration against the party congress of the right-wing populist party Alternative für Deutschland, 53 officers were injured on Saturday, German media report. Among other things, they were sprayed with a fire extinguisher, which irritated their airways.
Also, some police officers at the demonstration in the state of Baden-Württemberg suffered bruises and abrasions from being kicked and beaten. Seventeen officers were unable to continue their work due to the injuries.
Two protesters were injured. Investigations have been launched against a number of participants in the demonstration.
The party congress of the right-wing populist AfD will be held this weekend in Offenburg. Hundreds of members of the party are present.
The AfD was founded in 2013 as a conservative and right-liberal party, which was particularly critical of the euro. Internal strife and rivalry pushed the AfD to the right in 2015 and 2017. The party now mainly stands for nationalism, conservatism and populism, and strongly opposes immigration and Islamic influences.
Several demonstrations had been announced in Offenburg, including one against racism.
