A demonstrator in Halle was struck in the face by a suspected air-gun projectile during a march held after the AfD's decisive Saxony-Anhalt election win. About 850 people attended the protest organised by the Federation of Class Struggle Organizations. The 25-year-old suffered minor injuries, received on-scene treatment and did not need hospital care. Police have opened a state-security investigation, collected evidence and searched nearby flats, but the shooter remains unidentified.
Protester Struck in Face by Suspected Air-Gun Projectile During Halle Rally After AfD Win
FILE PHOTO - People take part in a nationwide Antifa demonstration taking place on the eve of the 2026 Saxony-Anhalt state election. (is associated with: «Protester in Saxony-Anhalt shot in face with suspected air gun») Heiko Rebsch/dpa
A demonstrator was hit in the face by a projectile from a suspected air gun during a march in the eastern German city of Halle on Monday night, authorities said. The protest followed the decisive victory of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.
The march, organised by the Federation of Class Struggle Organizations, drew about 850 participants, police reported. The incident occurred during the closing rally on August Bebel Square when shots were fired from a nearby residential building; officers said the weapon appeared to be an air rifle or an airsoft gun.
The injured demonstrator, a 25-year-old, sustained minor wounds and was treated on site by rescue personnel; he did not require hospitalisation. Police secured evidence at the scene and searched two neighbouring apartment blocks as part of an inquiry led by the state security authority. The shooter has not yet been identified and the investigation is ongoing.
Investigation and Context
Authorities have launched a formal probe through the state security unit. Investigators collected forensic evidence at the scene and conducted searches in adjacent buildings, but as of the latest update no arrests have been made.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions after a high-profile regional election in which the AfD made significant gains, prompting protests and street demonstrations in several cities.
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