Police officers have been attacked with bottles and stones at a far-right concert in Germany.

Eight officers were injured by concert-goers on Saturday night in the town of Apolda in east-central state Thuringia.

The violence prompted police to stop the gig, held under the slogan "Rock against the overflow of foreigners", as the country witnesses an upsurge in anti-immigrant protests.

Several concert-goers attempted to force through a police cordon, throwing bottles and stones at officers who retaliated with pepper spray.

None of the injured officers were seriously hurt, authorities said.


Police also recorded 22 instances of the use of banned Nazi insignia.

Image: Balloons saying 'Nazis, no thank you' at a counter-demonstration

Around 500 counter-protesters marched against the far-right concert.

Germany has been deeply polarised by the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers since 2015.

The significant loss of support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's mainstream Christian Democratic party and for the Social Democrats has seen right-wing party Alternative for Germany enter parliament.

Thuringia has emerged in recent years as a key site hosting far-right or neo-Nazi rock concerts - with 59 held in 2017 and 54 in 2016, according to broadcaster MDR.

Saturday's concert was due to be held at another small town in the state, but authorities blocked the event, forcing its last-minute move to Apolda.

Many Nazi-related symbols are banned in European countries including Germany.