Officials expect 50,000 people, including thousands of left-wing extremists, to partake in a protest in Cologne with the aim of shutting down the far-right AfD's party conference. A protest march with more than 60 different organizations is set to start as early as 7am on Saturday, directed at the Alternative for Germany party's (AfD) conference being held at a central Cologne hotel. Police have also said that they have information to indicate that thousands of left-wing extremists from around the country are planning to participate to try to prevent the party conference from taking place. “We want to counter those who endanger our societal unity with campaigns, demonstrations, information evenings, with noise, music and lots of humour,” the campaign website states. No one would be excluded here.”Supporters of the AfD, however, have called the effort a “hate campaign”, RP reports.

Source: The Local April 19, 2017 09:45 UTC