The German Police Union has urged for swift legal measures and preventive detention to address potential violence during the AfD’s national party congress in Erfurt.

The German Police Union (DPolG) has issued a stark warning ahead of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) national party congress scheduled for July 4-5 in Erfurt. Anticipating potential violence and unrest, particularly targeting law enforcement officers, the union has called for judges and prosecutors to be placed on standby to ensure immediate legal action against offenders. DPolG Chairman Heiko Teggatz emphasized the need for rapid and severe penalties for any attacks on police personnel, highlighting concerns over planned actions by left-wing and far-left activists.

The union has also proposed implementing preventive detention measures, modeled after Bavaria’s system, which allows for up to 30 days of detention on judicial orders. This approach aims to mitigate risks and preemptively address threats posed by individuals identified as likely to engage in violent acts. Authorities are bracing for significant protests, with estimates suggesting 35,000 to 50,000 demonstrators, including up to 2,500 individuals deemed potentially violent or seeking confrontation.

Civil society groups and political organizations, including members of the Left Party, have openly supported protests against the AfD congress. Left Party leader Ines Schwerdtner described blockades as a legitimate form of democratic protest, advocating for non-violent resistance. However, tensions have escalated following an anonymous post on the far-left platform Indymedia, which called for unprecedented mobilization, including rooftop occupations along the AfD’s travel routes and potential militant actions. The specifics of these planned attacks remain unclear, but the rhetoric has raised alarms among law enforcement and local authorities.

The heightened security concerns stem from previous experiences with large-scale protests, such as those during the G20 summit in Hamburg. The police union’s call for enhanced legal readiness underscores the broader challenge of balancing public safety with the right to protest. As Erfurt prepares for the influx of demonstrators, the event is set to test the city’s capacity to manage large-scale political dissent while safeguarding its residents and law enforcement personnel.