AfD Politician Accused of Injuring 14-Year-Old in Stendal

In Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, an AfD Member of the European Parliament is accused of apprehending and allegedly injuring a 14-year-old boy caught in the act of destroying the party's election posters. The politician reportedly used force to detain the minor until the police arrived.

According to another teenager present, the politician allegedly employed a baseball bat to prevent the 14-year-old from escaping on a scooter. Reports from MDR and other media indicate that the minor sustained injuries and was treated in the hospital for a mild concussion, bruises, and injuries to his lip and gums.

Lying in Wait to Catch "Anti-social Youths" Red-Handed

The State Criminal Police Office of Saxony-Anhalt, which has taken over the investigation from the Stendal police, confirmed the incident to Welt, stating, "Subsequently, a possible physical altercation occurred between a person with immunity and the youths. A suspected blunt instrument was allegedly used."

While the use of a baseball bat as a weapon has not yet been confirmed, the identity of the politician involved has been easily established. Although the State Criminal Police Office referred to him as a "person with immunity," it is understood to be 43-year-old Arno Bausemer, who has served on the Stendal city council since 2019 and became a Member of the European Parliament in 2024.

Bausemer himself documented his actions against the vandals on Facebook, posting, "Caught, apprehended, and handed over to the police!" alongside a photograph showing him holding a boy by the collar, with the minor's face pixelated. He explained that he and a party colleague had been staking out Arneburger Straße in Stendal after an AfD banner had been cut twice. On the third occasion, they "caught the anti-social youths red-handed, and I was able to apprehend and hold one of the perpetrators after a short pursuit and resistance." Bausemer's own account confirms that the confrontation was not peaceful.

Strong Criticism from the Greens

The State Criminal Police Office is continuing to investigate the exact circumstances. A police spokesperson told MDR that it is possible to lift the politician's immunity to "initiate criminal procedural measures against the person involved, who currently has immunity."

The Greens in Saxony-Anhalt have already voiced strong criticism of Bausemer. Tobias Kremkau, chairman of the Green district association Altmark (including Stendal), told Welt, "Destroying election posters is not a minor offense. But attacking youths with a baseball bat is not an appropriate response."

According to Der Spiegel, the Green party leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, has called for Bausemer's resignation, at least if the allegations are confirmed. She stated that violence should never be a means of political discourse in a democracy. "Anyone who uses a baseball bat against a 14-year-old and accepts the risk of seriously injuring him is unfit for political office and must immediately resign from their mandate," said the party's top candidate for the state elections in early September.

English Translation

An AfD Member of the European Parliament in Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, has reportedly caught a teenager allegedly vandalizing the party's election posters and is accused of injuring him. The politician allegedly used force to hold the boy until the police arrived.

According to another teenager present, the politician is said to have used a baseball bat to prevent the 14-year-old from fleeing on a scooter. Reports from MDR and other media indicate that the youth was injured and received hospital treatment for a mild concussion, bruises, and injuries to his lip and gums.

Lying in Wait to Catch "Anti-social Youths" Red-Handed

The State Criminal Police Office of Saxony-Anhalt, which has taken over the investigation from the Stendal police, confirmed the incident to Welt, stating, "Subsequently, a possible physical altercation occurred between a person with immunity and the youths. A suspected blunt instrument was allegedly used."

While the use of a baseball bat as a weapon has not yet been confirmed, the identity of the politician involved has been easily established. Although the State Criminal Police Office referred to him as a "person with immunity," it is understood to be 43-year-old Arno Bausemer, who has served on the Stendal city council since 2019 and became a Member of the European Parliament in 2024.

Bausemer himself documented his actions against the vandals on Facebook, posting, "Caught, apprehended, and handed over to the police!" alongside a photograph showing him holding a boy by the collar, with the minor's face pixelated. He explained that he and a party colleague had been staking out Arneburger Straße in Stendal after an AfD banner had been cut twice. On the third occasion, they "caught the anti-social youths red-handed, and I was able to apprehend and hold one of the perpetrators after a short pursuit and resistance." Bausemer's own account confirms that the confrontation was not peaceful.

Strong Criticism from the Greens

The State Criminal Police Office is continuing to investigate the exact circumstances. A police spokesperson told MDR that it is possible to lift the politician's immunity to "initiate criminal procedural measures against the person involved, who currently has immunity."

The Greens in Saxony-Anhalt have already voiced strong criticism of Bausemer. Tobias Kremkau, chairman of the Green district association Altmark (including Stendal), told Welt, "Destroying election posters is not a minor offense. But attacking youths with a baseball bat is not an appropriate response."

According to Der Spiegel, the Green party leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, has called for Bausemer's resignation, at least if the allegations are confirmed. She stated that violence should never be a means of political discourse in a democracy. "Anyone who uses a baseball bat against a 14-year-old and accepts the risk of seriously injuring him is unfit for political office and must immediately resign from their mandate," said the party's top candidate for the state elections in early September.