GETTY • EPA Violent clashes broke out between left-wing protestors and police outside a right-wing conferenc

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Hundreds of left-wing protestors burned tyres and hurled fireworks and stones in an attempt to disrupt the gathering of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a right-wing anti-immigration party. The AfD, who wants to ban the burka and minarets on mosques, is expected to re-brand itself as only anti-Islamic during the meeting. More than 1,000 heavily-armoured riot police used tear gas, pepper spray and a water cannon to push back the crowd, many of whom were dressed in black and wore masks.

The heated clashes underline growing social tensions in Germany over a record influx of more than one million migrants who arrived in the country last year. Several party members were assaulted during the four-hour standoff but a police spokesman said no injuries were reported other than “minor incidents of eye irritation due to the pepper spray”.

EPA Around 400 protestors were arrested during the unrest

Hundreds of left-wing protestors burned tyres and hurled fireworks and stones

Some protestors were seen being dragged away by police as other chanted “shame on you” at officers. Many demonstrators chanted pro-refugee slogans, with banners reading “Your hate campaign p***** us off” and “human rights, not right-wing humans”. Some protestors formed human chains to try to block delegates from entering the conference hall in the southwestern city of Stuttgart.

The violence, which broke out at around 6am local time, forced the AfD to delay the start of its two-day conference, where the party is expected to unveil its new anti-Islam manifesto. The right-wing party conference, which was expected to draw in nearly 2,000 attendees, later began as planned despite the unrest. The AfD’s anti-immigration and anti-Islam policies were expected to be at the centre of the agenda at the conference.

GETTY A water cannon was used to disperse protestors

Last week the party’s deputy leader and European Parliament member Beatrix von Storch said the conference would call for a ban on Islamic symbols in Germany, including as minarets on mosques, the call to prayer and full-face veils for women. The right-wing party, which was founded in 2013, saw a surge in popularity in local elections last month, which were seen by many as a reaction against German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s liberal refugee policy.

EPA Protestors were demonstrating against the anti-Islamic party Alternative for Germany