Police executed a court-authorised search of the home of a staff member to AfD lead candidate Kristin Brinker in Berlin's Lichterfelde district five days before the state vote. The 48-year-old is suspected of breaching Germany's explosives and weapons laws, though prosecutors said they found no evidence to substantiate that allegation. Officers seized other items — reportedly including drugs and Nazi memorabilia — which will undergo forensic testing. The AfD called the matter "private," and Brinker said she had no indication the aide held extremist views.
Police Search Home of AfD Lead Candidate's Aide Days Before Berlin Vote; Items Seized for Forensic Analysis
FILE PHOTO: Kristin Brinker, the Alternative for Germany's (AfD) top candidate for the 2026 Berlin House of Representatives election, speaks during a press conference held by the AfD on the topic "Seven-Point Plan for Better Schools in Berlin." (is associated with: «Police search home of aide to AfD top candidate in Berlin election») Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
Berlin prosecutors said on Friday that police carried out a court-authorised search of the home of a staff member of Kristin Brinker, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) lead candidate in Berlin's state election, five days before the vote.
The 48-year-old aide is suspected of breaching Germany's explosives and weapons laws, prosecutors said. The search was carried out on Tuesday in the Lichterfelde district after a court order. The Bild and BZ newspapers first reported the case.
Prosecutors stressed they had found "no evidence to substantiate the allegation" related to explosives or weapons. Nevertheless, officers seized other items during the search; those items will now undergo forensic analysis to determine whether they are relevant under criminal law.
Newspaper reports say investigators discovered drugs and Nazi memorabilia at the residence. Prosecutors have not independently confirmed those specific reports and say the seized material remains subject to forensic testing.
AfD spokesman Ronald Gläser described the incident as a "private matter" and said the party was "awaiting the outcome of the investigation."
Kristin Brinker was quoted by Bild as saying she had "never had any indication that he held such views" and that the aide was "simply a collector."
The public prosecutor said the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide further details while forensic examinations continue.
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