About an hour before the opening of the AfD national conference in Erfurt on Saturday, which began punctually at 10 o’clock, 540 of the 600 delegates had already arrived. Thanks to a massive police operation the several thousand demonstrators have not succeeded in blocking the access roads to the event, reports Die Welt. The police have also escorted buses to the conference venue believed to have transported delegates.

The protests began already on Friday evening with a drone show in the night sky, in which a swarm of glowing drones formed the slogan “FCK AFD”. A subsequent police ban on drone flights resulted in the seizure of three drones.
Before the event the administrative court in Weimar had upheld an appeal by the activist network Attac against a ban on demonstrating near the conference venues, so that protests could take place along the delegates’ access route, even though some roads also have demonstration bans.
On Friday the police had issued a statement saying that they would not tolerate violence, and that it would be met with severe consequences.
In the hours before the event more than 200 buses with demonstrators had arrived. Hundreds of activists have blocked roads and intersections.
Violence and vandalism have also occurred. Both police officers and the AfD office in Erfurt have been attacked with fireworks and dye, Die Welt reports, which has its own reporter on site. The police have also escorted press personnel to the national conference.
Several protest actions are expected, and the police estimate that 2,500 violent extremists will head to Erfurt while the AfD national conference takes place on Saturday and Sunday.