Two right-wing extremist AfD politicians attacked in Stuttgart – DW – May 9, 2024

According to police in the southwest German state of Baden-Württemberg, two politicians were attacked in the city of Stuttgart on Wednesday evening.

The two, who were state representatives from the right-wing extremist party Alternative for Germany (AfD), suffered minor injuries, police said.

The incident is the latest attack on politicians in Germany after days of violence against several Left and Green Party politicians.

What we know about the attack

The two members of the state parliament stood at an information stand that the AfD had set up at an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the German constitution, the so-called Basic Law.

According to the police, suspected AfD opponents blocked the information stand and held up banners. Members of the faction were verbally and physically “attacked”.

The AfD said one of the MPs was hit in the head and the other in the neck. It was not immediately clear what object they were hit with.

According to the police, two women aged 19 and 23 were being investigated for the incident, while officers were still looking for other suspected perpetrators.

The AfD called on the country’s Interior Minister, Thomas Strobl, to take action against left-wing extremism.

Wave of violence against politicians

Wednesday’s attack came a day after the attack on center-left Economy Minister Franziska Giffey at a library in the German capital.

In another incident on Tuesday, a 47-year-old Green Party politician in the eastern city of Dresden was threatened and spat on as she hung campaign posters. A DW reporting team was on site and recorded the incident.

They were reportedly among a group of people standing nearby as the politician began her work. This group is also under investigation after they were allegedly heard using an illegal Nazi slogan.

Previously, MEP Matthias Ecke and a Green Party campaign employee had also been attacked in Dresden.

fb/rm (dpa, EPD)

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