A leader of the German populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is in intensive care after he was allegedly attacked on the campaign trail.
Tino Chrupalla, one of the party’s two leaders, was reportedly attending an event in Bavaria when he was set upon.
According to a report by German weekly Junge Freiheit, AfD party insiders believe that their co-leader was attacked with some sort of needle, with one event attendee describing Chrupalla as going into “anaphylactic shock” after being stabbed.
Hier wird #Chrupalla mit dem Krankenwagen ins Krankenhaus gebracht nachdem er augenscheinlich zusammen gebrochen ist. Quelle: Steven Hellmuth https://t.co/JCUzBCIgGE pic.twitter.com/LiYavYFH5O
— Junge Freiheit (@Junge_Freiheit) October 4, 2023
He was then taken to hospital where he was allegedly admitted to intensive care.
Local media is reporting that Chrupalla remains in intensive care as of the morning of October 5, although he is said to be responsive and in a stable condition.
Police are said to be investigating the incident, with Junge Freiheit claiming that two unknown men were arrested at the scene of the alleged attack.
More establishment-leaning German media outlets have reported police as saying that they have seen “no evidence of an attack”, but that “obvious injury was apparent” when officers first attended the AfD leader.
Police emphasised that their investigation is continuing and have launched a public appeal for witnesses and video evidence of the alleged incident.
A leader of the German populist Alternative für Deutschland party is under state protection after threats were made against her family. https://t.co/JbIm3WHIfy
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) October 4, 2023
The apparent attack on Chrupalla has prompted shock across the world, with even US billionaire X-owner Elon Musk describing the alleged incident as “unreal”.
The reported assault follows an increasing spate of violent threats and attacks against AfD politicians that has coincided with a surge in its political popularity.
Alice Weidel, the party’s other leader, was revealed to have been put under police protection earlier in October after serious threats were made against her and her family.
Initially described as being transferred from her family home to an unknown safe location, Junge Freiheit has now reported that she has fled mainland Europe and is in Mallorca, Spain.
Daniel Tapp, a spokesman for the senior politician, described Weidel’s family as being “shocked” by the threats, although he emphasised Weidel fully intends to return to Germany in time for state elections due to take place on October 8.
Andreas Jurca, a candidate for the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party in Bavaria, was brutally assaulted at a campaign event. https://t.co/Fygcg9ShZK
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) August 15, 2023
