Tens of thousands demonstrated on Saturday against the AfD party conference in the German city of Essen. An AfD politician is said to have bitten a protester beforehand. He described the incident from his perspective on Sunday.
More than 24 hours after the biting attack on the protester, North Rhine-Westphalia politician Stefan Hrdy admitted his involvement in the incident. However, the 67-year-old told the German news agency that he acted in self-defense.
Blockade of counter-protesters
On his way to the Grugahalle, he encountered a blockade of counter-demonstrators. According to his own statements, the pensioner got out of the car to ask a police officer to clear the way for him. Then he was attacked.
“I held on to my leg and bit it”
“Then I got kicked in the right calf, fell down and two or three fell on me, I say fell, and then a kick came from the right, I was able to dodge a little bit, then grabbed my leg and ‘I bit down, so I wouldn’t get kicked again,” says the former police officer. At that point, police officers intervened. He was able to get up and continue driving.
Video challenges the story
The newspaper ‘Bild’ has now published a video of the incident. It shows Hrdy walking towards a police barricade. Several protesters stand in his way, a commotion ensues and the AfD deputy falls to the ground. Parts of the video do not match the image of Hrdy. All that can be seen is a protester lying on top of him with his leg and biting Hrdy on the calf. The described kick in the calf cannot be seen, but the view is temporarily obscured.
AfD politician thinks about advertising
A spokeswoman for the Essen police explained that they had learned about the case through the media. It is still unclear whether the person who was bitten filed a complaint. The investigation was ongoing. Hrdy himself said that he intended to file a complaint.
The AfD deputy said that during his time with GSG 9, the federal police’s special unit, he had learned to physically defend himself. However, the man he encountered on the street was significantly younger than him and was wearing boots, Hrdy said. He has no visible injuries from the incident.
28 officers were injured
The AfD party conference was accompanied by mass protests on Saturday. Tens of thousands demonstrated against the AfD. There was also violence. According to police reports, 28 officers were injured in clashes between police and activists, one seriously. Police said Saturday night that large groups of people, sometimes numbering several hundred, repeatedly tried to prevent delegates from attending or to break through barriers with violent disruptive actions.
Source: Krone
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