Police anticipate an "endgame scenario" at the AfD party conference

2026-07-01

German police have intensified security preparations ahead of the AfD party conference in Erfurt this weekend, warning that violent protesters could attempt to storm the venue if earlier demonstrations fail to disrupt the event.

According to an internal police situation report cited by German media, authorities now expect up to 60,000 demonstrators to gather during the July 4–5 conference, an increase from earlier estimates of 50,000. Officials believe that while most protesters will participate peacefully, a smaller group of violent extremists could pose a significant security threat.

Police estimate that around 2,000 to 2,500 individuals belong to a militant group considered highly prone to violence. Authorities say these protesters could use objects such as garbage bins, containers, and tree trunks to build barricades, block roads, or interfere with police operations. Investigators also fear that calls for coordinated action could spread through protest communication channels if initial blockade efforts fail.

Around 14,000 demonstrators are expected to take part in planned blockades aimed at disrupting access to the conference. Police have identified hundreds of organized bus trips from 67 regions across Germany, along with two buses traveling from Austria. Authorities also anticipate sit-ins, human chains, and the use of the so-called "finger tactic," in which multiple groups move simultaneously at different locations to stretch police resources.

The German Police Union has warned that maintaining security will require a large deployment of officers from across the country. Union chairman Jochen Kopelke said there remains a risk that some federal states could withdraw promised personnel if they face urgent security needs at home. He also noted that the timing of the conference, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Nazi Party's 1926 Reich Party Congress in Weimar, has heightened tensions and could increase the likelihood of confrontations during the demonstrations.