Two police officers have been seriously injured in connection with a demonstration in the German city of Essen.
Up to 50,000 people are protesting on Saturday against the far-right party AFD, which has gathered in the city for a congress, according to the organizers' figures.
In total, over ten police officers have been injured during the demonstration. Two police officers have been taken to hospital with serious injuries since police and demonstrators clashed outside the congress.
"Unknown individuals kicked the two police officers in the head" and continued to beat them even when they were lying down, according to the police.
About 600 participants from the German far-right party AFD are meeting for two days at a congress that takes place just a few weeks after the EU election, where the party, despite several scandals, made a record election.
Earlier on Saturday, a large group of demonstrators tried to break through a police cordon, and the police were forced to use pepper spray and batons.
"Several disturbing violent actions occurred in the Ruettenscheld quarter. Demonstrators, some of them wearing hoods, attacked security forces. Several arrests were made", the police wrote on X.
In the morning, several hundred demonstrators also blocked the exit to a motorway and occupied streets and intersections near the site in an attempt to prevent party members from reaching the congress.
Party leader Alice Weidel opened the meeting by saying that "what is happening out there has nothing to do with democracy" and promised that "we are here and we will stay".
The police's headache is also contributed to by the European Championship. The round of 16 match between the host nation Germany and Denmark takes place on Saturday evening in Dortmund – not far from Essen.
