AfD politician allegedly attacked teen with baseball bat over damaged poster

Weeks before the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, an alleged assault by an Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician has sparked controversy. The incident, which occurred in the town of Stendal, reportedly involved the politician pursuing a 14-year-old boy with a baseball bat after the teenager damaged an AfD election poster.

According to a statement from the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), a possible physical altercation took place between the politician, who enjoys immunity, and the youths, with a "suspected striking tool" being used. One of the teenagers sustained injuries and received medical treatment for what was later reported as a mild concussion, bruises, and lip injuries.

Arno Bausemer, an AfD Member of the European Parliament, shared on Facebook that he and a party colleague "caught" the youths damaging the poster and that he apprehended one after a "short pursuit and resistance." He posted a photo of himself holding a youth, whose face was pixelated. However, Bausemer's account to the newspaper "Junge Freiheit" differed, stating he confronted the youths with his baseball bat but that no physical altercation occurred.

Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, the Green Party's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, has sharply condemned the alleged attack and called for Bausemer's resignation, stating that if the allegations are confirmed, the AfD and its representative have crossed a line.