Germany's AfD party holds controversial meeting with far-right groups

A regional chapter of the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has held a controversial meeting with far-right groups in northern Germany.

Around 100 people were in attendance at the event in Neumünster, the AfD chapter in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein said. The meeting featured lectures and exhibits around the theme of preparing for the future.

A broad alliance of around 130 counterprotesters from across the political spectrum assembled outside the venue, said police.

Organizers of the counterprotest said 200 demonstrators took part, carrying signs and banners before dispersing in the afternoon.

The Schleswig-Holstein Interior Ministry in Kiel was critical of the meeting, saying the participants included a number of organizations classified as far-right extremists by Germany's domstic intelligence service, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

Representatives from the Compact magazine, which was recently banned by German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, were originally invited to Saturday's meeting, but an AfD politician confirmed to dpa that their invitation was rescinded.