POLICE in Hannover blasted anti-racists with water cannon at the weekend during a protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) holding its leadership conference in the city.

Protests began peacefully on Friday evening, with demonstrators holding up banners reading “Our Hannover — colourful and in solidarity.” They continued on Saturday with numbers swelling to as many as 6,500 people.

Altercations between police and protesters broke out as some activists tried to block the road to the Hannover conference centre.