Erfurt (dpa/th) - Hundreds of people took to the streets in Erfurt on Saturday. According to the police, around 1,850 people had gathered at a right-wing rally next to the state parliament by the early evening. The number was well below the announced 10,000 participants. According to the police, around 250 other people gathered on the station forecourt to protest against the right-wing march. 500 participants had registered for the counter-demonstration, which was supported by the left, among others.
According to a police spokeswoman, there were no incidents until early Saturday evening. Speakers at the extreme right-wing rally included Martin Kohlmann, head of the small right-wing extremist party "Freie Sachsen", who had been convicted of incitement to hatred, and Jürgen Elsässer, the publisher of "Compact-Magazine". The Thuringian AfD boss Björn Höcke was also announced. The Thuringian AfD is classified by the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a secured extremist effort.
The left-wing member of the state parliament, Katharina König-Preuss, said such demonstrations showed that the alliance to form a fascist movement had taken place. They would be organized from the extreme right and supported by appropriate groups. A clear sign should be set against this.
