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A young man with stab wounds was found at Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz in Leipzig. The circumstances remain unclear. Also: A large demonstration against Friedrich Merz and the federal government took place in Plauen on Saturday and proceeded largely peacefully. It was accompanied by a counter-protest due to allegations of right-wing extremism. The LZ summarises the key events from the weekend of 8 and 9 August 2026 in Leipzig, Saxony and beyond.
What happened? 20-year-old found with stab wounds in Leipzig
A shocking discovery was made at Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz in Leipzig: a young man with stab wounds was found there on Saturday afternoon. According to police spokesperson Tom Erik Richter , the emergency services were alerted at around 1.20 pm and found the 20-year-old near the S-Bahn station. The victim received first aid from a police officer and was admitted to hospital for further treatment.
Meanwhile, the police have launched their investigation, secured evidence and deployed a tracking dog. No information was initially available regarding the circumstances of the incident; the offence is suspected to be grievous bodily harm.
Large demonstration in Plauen against the federal government proceeds peacefully
By contrast, a large demonstration on Saturday in Plauen, Saxony, remained largely peaceful: according to a report by MDR, around 10,000 people demonstrated against the federal government in the Vogtland town on Saturday. The call to demonstrate had been issued by the “Projekt M1llion” movement. On its website , the movement calls for, amongst other things, the resignation of the federal government and new elections, direct democracy modelled on the Swiss system, a halt to the current healthcare reform, a nationwide 29-euro ticket, and a reorientation of migration policy.
The protest march – which, according to its organisers, aims to build on the legacy of the Peaceful Revolution in the GDR – was temporarily halted by drummers. Numerous German flags were waved, but flags of the Kingdom of Saxony were also on display. These are frequently used by the ‘Freie Sachsen’ group, which is classified as far-right.
This factor, in particular, had mobilised several hundred counter-demonstrators. According to the Alliance for Democracy, Tolerance and Civil Courage,
the ‘Projekt M1llion’ demonstration had also been promoted by far-right groups on relevant online platforms. Organisers from this milieu were also involved. Behind the protest’s ostensible appeal, based on the federal government’s policies, ethno-nationalist and anti-Semitic narratives were being spread in Facebook comments.
According to police reports, only isolated incidents of criminal offences, such as verbal abuse, were recorded. However, due to the summer weather and its effects, around 30 participants at the rallies had to seek medical attention for circulatory problems.
What the LZ reported over the weekend:
Sunday Church No. 166: Kreypau Church near Leuna
The Works of the Masters: Jürgen Groß’s aphorisms from 40 unconventional years
This is how beautiful the new ‘Feuerland’ at the zoo will be
Bilger and Rainer Gallery : Two federal ministers, the ‘weather’ and light-hearted banter
A mere pittance for Leipzig’s budget: Second-home tax set to rise from 1 January
Reform fraught with hurdles, part 2: How politics is blocking the expansion of energy storage
Young men with empty beer bottles: 28 short stories from the lives of others
What else was going on:
Late on Saturday evening, the police and public order officials broke up an unauthorised party on the northern shore of Lake Zwenkau , which is said to have been attended by around 350 people. The authorities initiated proceedings for various administrative offences.
Following a major police operation on Nikolaistraße in Leipzig on Thursday, it emerged that a suspected troublemaker was believed to be Philipp Preißler (Independent Voters), the mayor of Freiberg: The 40-year-old, who was staying at a hotel in a private capacity, is said to have damaged property, thrown objects and injured police officers.
In Chemnitz on Sunday morning, a car crashed into the Würschnitz river; the driver (78) was seriously injured.
A hiker from Saxony was rescued by the mountain rescue service in the Alps.
Low water levels in many rivers continue to cause problems; some federal states have therefore relaxed the Sunday driving ban for lorries.
Israel has officially rejected a peace plan for the Gaza Strip put forward by US President Donald Trump (80): A withdrawal of the army would only be considered if Hamas were completely disarmed; at the same time, there would be no Palestinian state in Gaza or the West Bank under its auspices, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (76) at a cabinet meeting. Some points of the US plan are acceptable, but others are not.
In the Iran conflict, the Iranian side is insisting on concessions from the US.
Calendar: The Taliban’s lightning advance in Afghanistan five years ago
On 8 August 2021, the radical Islamist Taliban in Afghanistan captured the important provincial capital of Kunduz in the north of the country during their summer offensive. They later advanced into other cities, facing no significant resistance from the army or security forces.
On 15 August, the Taliban entered Kabul, thereby returning to the levers of power some twenty years after their expulsion by Western forces. Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani fled into exile. For women, girls and members of the opposition in particular, the Taliban’s triumph represents a horrific step backwards due to their disregard for human rights.
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