Overview

• The opening was halted by chants, sirens and whistles until officers removed roughly 30 in-hall protesters and imposed expulsions, after which the event continued.
• The sold-out venue hosted around 700–850 people as more than a thousand gathered outside to protest, with police later counting up to about 2,000.
• The two-hour exchange followed six preset topics with timed turns under moderator Joachim Knape, and the city provided a podium-only livestream.
• Palmer challenged AfD positions with statistics and party quotes on crime, energy and democracy, while Frohnmaier cast the evening as open debate, disputed Palmer’s numbers and declined to answer a question on Russia ties.
• Authorities enforced ID checks, bans on noise devices and other items, and nearby street closures, reporting a largely peaceful night aside from scuffles and a flagpole attack on an officer with no injuries.