Mass protests erupt in Germany as AfD eyes breakthrough in eastern states

Protesters blocked several routes to the conference venue while being watched by police in riot gear. The demonstrations were organised by a broad coalition of groups opposed to the AfD and its policies.​ Thousands of people took to the streets of the German city of Erfurt on Saturday to protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), blocking roads leading to the party's annual conference as it seeks major gains in upcoming eastern state elections.Police estimated that around 15,000 people joined demonstrations in and around Erfurt, with protesters from trade unions, civil society groups and left-wing parties sitting across roads and highways near the convention centre. Large numbers of police, including reinforcements from across Germany, were deployed to contain the protests.The demonstrations came as the AfD held its two-day annual conference, with the party leading opinion polls nationally and hoping to make further gains in elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The results could give the party a chance to take power at state level for the first time."We want to make it clear that we simply won't tolerate this, that fascism is on the rise here in ...