Chaos on streets of Germany as left-wingers clash with far-right activists

Violence erupted on the streets of Germany on Sunday evening as left-wing demonstrators clashed with far-right activists in Gelsenkirchen, just hours after the country’s latest election results sent shockwaves through the political establishment.

The unrest came as police oversaw a rally and march under the slogan: "Solidarity is our choice. Against the shift to the right, war, and crisis.”

The demonstration was organised by a 25-year-old man from Recklinghausen, drawing participants primarily from the political left, including some from far-left extremist groups, said Gelsenkirchen Police.

Protestors gathered at 4.30 pm in the old town's station forecourt before marching through Ückendorf to Frankeplatz, outside the Holy Cross Church on Bochumer Strasse. A large police presence accompanied the procession.

But tensions boiled over at around 6.30pm at the intersection of Virchowstrasse and Bochumer Strasse, where demonstrators encountered a small group of what were believed to far-right supporters.

Fireworks and smoke bombs were set off by some participants in the rally, prompting police intervention to prevent an all-out confrontation. Officers ordered several individuals to leave the area, which they did.

The situation was brought under control within minutes, but not before a journalist’s equipment was damaged in the scuffle. Authorities have launched an investigation into the perpetrator and other possible violations.

The rally finished at about 7pm.

Gelsenkirchen Police Chief Tim Frommeyer said: "The fact that some of the participants in the meeting lit fireworks and smoke bombs this evening was as dangerous as it was unnecessary. And the fact that a journalist's equipment was also damaged must be thoroughly investigated.

"This behaviour contradicts values ​​protected by fundamental rights.

"That is why we intervened and immediately began investigations.”

Meanwhile, violent scenes also played out in Berlin, where a protest against the AfD's election party in Wittenau, north-west of the German capital, Berlin, left multiple people injured.

A siren was turned on at such an extreme volume that 14 police officers suffered hearing damage, according to Berlin Police Chief Barbara Slowik Meisel.

She said: "Five of them were treated in the Bundeswehr hospital.”

The injuries occurred when activists from the "Center for Political Beauty" initiative arrived outside the AfD's election party in a bus equipped with loudspeakers.

As the first election results were projected at 6 pm, the sirens blared at a peak noise level of 109 decibels - louder than a chainsaw - triggering multiple emergency calls, reported the Berliner Morgenpost.Police forcibly opened the bus, which had been locked from the inside, and shut down the siren.

Ms Slowil Meisel said: "An investigation was initiated against the owner on suspicion of bodily harm."

Demonstrators involved in the incident were banned from further protests until the following morning.