Germany Clashes: Two Police Officers Seriously Injured Amid Altercation During Mass Demonstration in Essen

Berlin, June 30: Two police officers were seriously injured during clashes at a mass demonstration against the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party congress in the western German city of Essen, while several others sustained minor injuries, local media quoted police as saying.

When riot police officers escorted an AfD delegate on Saturday, two officers were kicked "in the head" by unknown perpetrators, said the Essen police, adding that the officers "were attacked even while lying on the ground" and had to be taken to hospital with serious injuries, Xinhua news agency reported. Germany Shocker: 43-Year-Old Man in Paderborn City Reports Himself to Police for Killing Someone.

There was another clash during the protests against the two-day AfD party congress in Essen, which began on Saturday. According to police, several tens of thousands of people initially protested peacefully. However, a blockade action in the morning turned partly violent, resulting in injuries to eleven other police officers. Germany Shocker: Court Sentences Father To 13 Years in Prison for Attempted Murder by Injecting Mercury Into His Daughter's Foot, Girlfriend Gets 12 Years for Involvement in Crime.

"Against right-wing extremism and racism, we need strong democratic forces and peaceful protest," wrote Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on the social media platform X on Saturday. The minister emphasized that violence is "unjustifiable." Faeser thanked the police for their efforts.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 30, 2024 03:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).