Protests at far-right party’s conference as Germany’s election campaign warms up

Police clear a blockade at a demonstration against the AfD (Jan Woitas/dpa/AP)

Thousands of people demonstrated against a conference of the far-right Alternative for Germany party on Saturday, blocking some roads and delaying the start as parties launched their campaigns for the country’s election next month.

A heavy police presence was in place in Riesa, in the eastern state of Saxony, a stronghold of Alternative for Germany, or AfD, and officers cleared some protesters from the streets.