Protests erupt in Giessen as AfD launches youth group
According to reports, activists arrived early Saturday in the normally quiet college town, attempting to obstruct roads, breach police lines, and confront AfD members and supporters.
Local authorities said protesters were “massively” disrupting traffic. Police repeatedly deployed pepper spray and water cannons to disperse the crowd, which responded with flares, projectiles, and charges at police barricades.
Videos shared online show black-clad protesters clashing with AfD MP Julian Schmidt, with the lawmaker reportedly knocked to the ground after a physical confrontation. Another clip shows protesters attacking a car believed to be carrying AfD members or journalists. Additional footage appears to depict violent demonstrators targeting police vehicles.
Authorities said up to 15 officers sustained minor injuries, and several protesters required hospital treatment. One police horse was reportedly hurt amid the chaos.
The attempts to disrupt the event caused delays, with high-profile AfD figures including co-leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, as well as Jean-Pascal Hohm, arriving late. Hohm was eventually elected GD chairman.
Generation Deutschland succeeds the disbanded Young Alternative (JA), which the party dissolved in March after Germany’s federal intelligence agency classified it as extremist.
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