Germany: 400+ arrested as right and left wing protesters clash; political tensions heat up
Hundreds of left-wing protesters have clashed with people attending a far-right party conference in the German city of Stuttgart.
Around 1,000 officers were deployed at the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party conference, as 400 arrests were made.
Demonstrators burned tires on a motorway and threw fireworks and flares at officers, according to a police spokesman. A police helicopter was sent to the scene, while water cannon and pepper spray were used on the crowds.
The conference at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre, which was attended by nearly 2,000 AfD members, was delayed by an hour.
Footage on social media showed the protesters shouting slogans such as: "Keep refugees, drive Nazis away!" and "We'll get you all."
AfD, which wants to ban the burqa and outlaw minarets in Germany, is expected to announce that it is explicitly anti-Islamic during the meeting.
The party was due to set out its manifesto ahead of country's general election next year.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/alternative-fur-deutschland-conference-protesters-germany-arrested-a7007971.html
AfD has gained in popularity and support. And they are bringing out many new voters. They made significant gains in the regional elections last month. The gains suggest the German population is growing increasingly uneasy with Merkel's policies. Next year the country will have bigger elections. if AfD continues to gain, or if Merkel's frail political alliance continues to crack, there could be a political shift in Germany and Merkel (one of the most respected leaders in the world) could be forced out.
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