Using pepper spray and batons, police in Jena, eastern Germany, broke up a demonstration of around 2,000 people protesting against the appearance of the right-wing extremist AfD state chairman Björn Höcke and prevented him from taking part in an event.

The police said on Tuesday evening that they were not initially aware of any injuries.

Höcke should appear at a public discussion in a central location.

After consulting his personal security, Höcke’s appearance was cancelled, a police spokesman said. The AfD leader in Thuringia, where elections will be held on September 1, did not appear at the event, which was subsequently cancelled.

The anti-AfD demonstrators had registered their protest, but more people came than expected, police said.

The AfD is currently polling at around 30 percent and could therefore become the strongest party. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the AfD in Thuringia as right-wing extremist.