The Alternative for Germany (AfD) held its federal party conference in Erfurt amid a large-scale police operation and numerous counter-demonstrations organized primarily by left-wing groups. However, left-wing attacks targeting journalists in two separate incidents are now raising questions about press freedom in Germany. Both assaults were caught on film.
The main incident shows three journalists from Apollo News being chased down and kicked in the head repeatedly. All three journalists were transported to the hospital for treatment. During the incident, Der Spiegel reported that bottles and paint cans were also being thrown in the area near the targeted journalists.
🔴 Drei Reporter von Apollo News wurden in Erfurt aus einer Antifa-Demo heraus gejagt und zusammengeschlagen.
Als sie die Demonstration filmten wurden sie von ca. einem Dutzend Personen verfolgt und zu Boden geschlagen, als sie am Boden lagen wurde immer wieder nachgetreten… pic.twitter.com/yICrfMvtXo
— Max Mannhart (@maxmannhart) July 4, 2026The assault only ended with the arrival of police. Paramedics treated the journalists on site for head wounds, abrasions, and bruises.
In a second incident, Junge Freiheit journalist Vadim Derksen was attacked by a masked left-wing supporter and had his phone stolen.He was later able to recover it. According to the police, some suspects have already been identified and investigations have begun.
Antifa Angriff auf unsere Journalisten in Anwesenheit vom »Widersetzen« Organisator Suraj Mailitafi und Marcant. Mit einem Faustschlag ins Gesicht und auf die Hand wird das Handy entrissen und geklaut. Zuvor versicherte man uns, dass wir hier sicher seien. pic.twitter.com/iqUafTdZDU
— JUNGE FREIHEIT (@jungefreiheit) July 4, 2026Police have also announced an investigation into the incidents.
Im bisherigen Einsatzverlauf kam es zu Angriffen auf Medienvertreterinnen und Medienvertreter. Zu den bislang bekannt gewordenen Vorfällen haben wir umgehend Ermittlungen aufgenommen.
👉 Angriffe auf Journalistinnen und Journalisten werden von uns konsequent verfolgt.
Für… pic.twitter.com/2bvffeFiwR
— Polizei Thüringen (@Polizei_Thuer) July 4, 2026Welt newspaper has reacted to the assaults against journalists.
“The silence of left-wing NGOs and public service media regarding this attack on press freedom is a scandal,” wrote the paper.
“The scenes are shocking – not only because of their brutality, but because they strike at a cornerstone of democracy. Anyone who hunts down journalists, beats them up and attacks people is directly attacking press freedom. It doesn’t matter which medium the affected individuals work for. Freedom of the press applies not only to favorable reporting, but especially to journalists whose questions or perspectives are rejected. Anyone who abandons this principle leaves the ground of democratic debate,” the paper continued.
Welt also noted that the public media either avoided reporting on the attacks or wrote only the briefest of notes.
“The Tagesschau only mentioned the attacks in one sentence; they did not appear at all in the ‘heute journal’ of ZDF. An attack on colleagues should deserve more attention, regardless of the medium involved,” the report continues. “The silence is all the more irritating. Neither Luisa Neubauer nor Fridays for Future, the Jusos, the Green Youth, the Left Youth Solid or Grandma’s Against the Right have publicly condemned the attacks so far.”
Not all parties, however, were silent about the attacks.
“Anyone who uses violence against journalists is attacking democracy. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are central pillars of a free society,” said the domestic policy spokesman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Alexander Throm (CDU), to Bild newspaper.
Large-scale police operation
Far-left plans to block the AfD congress from proceeding were unsuccessful. Thuringian police deployed several thousand officers from across Germany, including federal forces, to secure the event and manage over 30 registered counter-protests involving blockades.
Police reported that the operation was overwhelmingly peaceful overall, with up to 31,000 participants across various assemblies, including a major German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) event with around 15,000 attendees and blockades involving approximately 10,000 people. However, authorities documented 65 criminal offenses, primarily property damage, bodily harm, and violations of assembly laws, along with 13 administrative offenses. Eleven police officers sustained minor injuries.
In one incident, a group of around 250 individuals attempted to break through police lines in the Frienstedt area, prompting investigations into suspected breach of the peace. Police seized four Bluetooth speakers intended to disrupt the conference and several drones flown in a prohibited zone. Thuringian police leadership noted that force was applied where necessary.
Interior Minister and police leadership have stated that investigations into the criminal offenses, including those against journalists, are ongoing and will be pursued consistently.
