Incident in Ingolstadt
AfD leader Chrupalla taken to hospital during election campaign appearance
October 4, 2023, 7:12 p.m
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Top AfD politicians are at the center of two still-unexplained incidents: At an election campaign event in Bavaria, boss Chrupalla is taken to the hospital. So far the authorities have not provided any information about the reasons. On Tuesday, co-boss Weidel canceled an appearance. Apparently for security reasons.
AfD party leader Tino Chrupalla was taken to hospital during a campaign rally in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The background is still unclear. The party spoke of an “assault incident” without further information. Chrupalla’s health condition is “still being clarified,” according to the Berlin party headquarters. The Ingolstadt police spoke of a police operation at an AfD election campaign rally, but initially did not give any details.
The “Donaukurier” reported that Chrupalla was initially taken to a police car. An ambulance later took him to the clinic. A spokesman did not want to comment on whether the 48-year-old was attacked or simply felt sick. Ex-FPÖ politician Gerald Grosz said that police officers told him that Chrupalla had taken a few selfies and then collapsed, the newspaper continues. A new state parliament will be elected in Bavaria on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the party also announced that AfD co-leader Alice Weidel had to cancel an election campaign appearance the day before because of a threat of attack. “Indications had accumulated (…) that pointed to an attack on her family.” Weidel and her family were therefore taken “by security authorities from their private apartment to a safe place.”
“For precautionary reasons,” she refrained from making public appearances on Tuesday, a spokesman said. Weidel therefore did not take part in an AfD event for the state elections in Mödlareuth, Bavaria-Thuringia, as planned. It remained unclear how long Weidel would refrain from making public appearances.
The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), which is responsible for the personal protection of politicians, said in response to an AFP request that the cancellation of Weidel’s participation in the event on Tuesday was “not at the instigation or recommendation of the BKA”. In addition, the authority “cannot provide any information about tactical measures or dangers.”