The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party sent "deportation tickets" for "illegal immigrants" to mailboxes around the city of Karlsruhe, a local AfD official confirmed to dpa on Tuesday. Police in the western city have launched an investigation into the campaign stunt on suspicion of incitement to hatred.

During a party conference Alice Weidel publicly endorsed the mass "return" or deportation of people with a migrant background.

A former EU official is accused of suggesting the European Union could try to annul Germany’s election results if the right-wing party wins.