Hospital confirms AfD's co-founder jabbed with needle

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Oct 2023 20:03

Alice Weidel, the other party's co-founder, did not attend the rally last Wednesday, noting that she and her family had been facing threats.

Afd's top candidate Tino Chrupalla is interviewed by a journalist as he follows the first forecasts on the outcome of the election at the Alternative for Germany party, AfD, election event in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021 (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

German rightwing party AfD on Friday issued a statement saying that its co-founder, Tino Chrupalla, underwent a medical assessment that confirmed he had been jabbed with a needle containing an unknown substance.

Chrupalla was hospitalized two days ago in Ingolstadt, Upper Bavaria, Germany before he was due to speak at an election rally. He was assaulted by two young men who were later arrested and detained by authorities. The party's spokesperson mentioned that due to security concerns, the co-leader of AfD, Alice Weidel, did not attend the rally. She and her family had been facing threats.

"It was confirmed that the examination of federal spokesperson Chrupala discovered a 'needle stab in the upper right arm.' Also, the examination confirmed intramuscular contamination with a currently unknown substance," the party said in a statement, citing a letter from the hospital.

Blood tests conducted on Chrupalla revealed no evidence of foreign substances, with the exception of residual traces of pain relief medication administered to the politician by a doctor following the incident, as reported by the Bild newspaper later in the day.

An inquiry into the physical injuries sustained by the AfD co-leader was initiated by the police. Nonetheless, as of Thursday, the German Prosecutor's Office stated that no substantiated proof of an assault had been presented.

The 2023 Bavarian state election is due to be held this Sunday. AfD party has been gaining in popularity in recent months, and polls show that it is currently polling between 18% and 23% nationally. The AfD supports limiting immigration and opening peace negotiations on the Ukraine crisis. Critics of the party accuse it of having close ties to Russia.

On September 6, Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that the AfD's nationalist policies could jeopardize the nation's economic well-being.

"Most citizens know that the self-called 'Alternative' is, in reality, a demolition commando -- a demolition squad for our country," Scholz told parliament at the start of budget debate week, while also expressing concern about the AfD's advocacy for a return to nationalism.

"Our prosperity is most tightly linked with the European Union," said Scholz.

"And that's why the calls for new barriers between the member states, for a dismantling of the EU, and for a radical dismantling of the welfare state is nothing but wanton destruction of prosperity," he further said.

On August 14, German sources told The Telegraph that the Bundestag is contemplating banning the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD).

In a speech to German domestic intelligence, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: "We all have it in our hands to put those who despise our democracy in their place."

His statements were linked to support for a ban after Haldenwang, the domestic spy chief, warned about increasing extremism in the party.

On his part, Haldenwang said: "We see a considerable number of protagonists in this party that spread hate against all types of minorities here in Germany."

Germany's famous Der Spiegel news magazine voiced its take on the matter by publishing the headline: "Ban the enemies of the constitution!"

"The AfD has become more and more radicalized. It’s time to defend democracy with better weapons," Der Spiegel said.