German politician bites protester during scuffle
A hard-Right German politician bit a protester on the leg as tens of thousands gathered for a march against his party.
Stefan Hrdy of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was driving to his party’s event in the west German city of Essen when the street was blocked by some 150 protesters.
The former parliamentary candidate was filmed being told by police he should find an alternative route.
However, disregarding the advice, he went on to thrust himself into the protest and grapple with several people.
“Someone kicked me in the calf from behind, I fell and then had three or four people on top of me,” Mr Hrdy, 67, told the German tabloid Bild.
“The man whose leg I then bit in self-defense had previously kicked me in the face. Then the police came and freed me,” he added.
The protest was one of a number across Essen that drew some 50,000 people looking to express their anger over the rise of the AfD.
The party was meeting after its record European Union election result earlier this month. It came second nationally in parliamentary elections.
It was first in all of the eastern German states except for Berlin and is poised for victory in upcoming elections in the states of Thuringia, Saxony and Brandeburg in September.
The party has been accused of racism for its hardline views on immigration, claims that its leaders deny.
On Saturday, protesters projected the anti-nazi slogan “never again” on the Grugahalle building, where the party was meeting, and attempted to block members from entering.
Several clashes broke out with police, who used tear gas to disperse the crowds. Two officers were hospitalised and 28 were injured.
The congress eventually happened, though half an hour later than scheduled due to the protests.
“We are here and we will stay,” said the AfD co-president, Alice Weidel.
“We have the right, like all political parties, to hold a congress.”
The AfD ended its second day of conference early to watch Germany defeat Denmark in the Euro 2024 tournament, in a match that was temporarily suspended due to heavy rain.
