AfD protests: demonstrators clash with police at start of far-right congress

Clashes between hooded demonstrators and police marked the start of a party congress of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), weeks after it scored record EU election results despite multiple scandals. About 1,000 police were deployed in the western city of Essen as about 600 delegates began a two-day meeting. Local police said via X that some masked demonstrators attacked police officers and there were attempts to break through barriers, resulting in police using pepper spray and batons