German prosecutors say witness evidence so far doesn't suggest a far-right leader was assaulted

FILE - Tino Chrupalla, right, co-leader of the 'Alternative For Germany' (AfD) party, and Alice Weidel, left, the party's second co-leader, are pictured after a news conference in Berlin Tuesday, May 25, 2021 .The prosecution office of the city of Ingolstadt has launched an investigation against 鈥渦nknown persons鈥 who allegedly assaulted Tino Chrupalla, one of the leaders of the German far-right Alternative for Germany party. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP, File)

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BERLIN (AP) 鈥 German prosecutors said Friday that testimony from witnesses hasn't revealed any indication so far that a co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party was assaulted at an election rally, German news agency dpa reported.

Tino Chrupalla was and then taken to a hospital shortly before he was due to speak at an election rally in Bavaria on Wednesday. Chrupalla's party, known by its German acronym AfD, said at the time that he was hospitalized after a 鈥渧iolent incident.鈥

Chrupalla was discharged from a hospital in Ingolstadt on Thursday and all scheduled election campaign events in Bavaria were canceled.

Prosecutors said that after witness questioning, there is 鈥渘o basis鈥 for information contained in a preliminary letter from a hospital doctor, which indicated that Chrupalla may have been jabbed with a needle from a syringe while taking selfies in the crowd before walking towards the stage where he was due to give a speech.

鈥淭he witnesses did not observe the supply of an injection or a physical assault,鈥 the statement said.

Prosecutors also confirmed that after a forensic investigation, Chrupalla鈥檚 blood tests were all within normal limits. Prosecutors were only able to detect an intake of painkillers 鈥渨ithin therapeutic range.鈥

German prosecutors, however, added that they were continuing their of an alleged physical assault of Chrupalla with additional witness questioning and an examination of Chrupalla鈥檚 clothing.

Chrupalla, 48, has been one of the AfD鈥檚 two leaders since 2019. The other co-leader is Alice Weidel.

The party was founded in 2013, initially with a focus against eurozone rescue packages. It gained strength following the arrival of a large number of refugees and migrants in 2015, and first entered Germany鈥檚 national parliament in 2017.

Recent national polls have put it in second place with support around the 20% mark, far above the 10.3% it won during the in 2021. It has been helped by the as a leading political issue and by frustration with the government鈥檚 , as well as high inflation.

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