Pranksters target German far-right party with election campaign stunt

Supporters hold balloons, flags and a placard during a campaign of right wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) top candidates for the upcoming general election, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, in Berlin, Germany, September 24, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

BERLIN (Reuters) - Pranksters posing as a delivery service won a contract from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to distribute a million campaign flyers - instead sending the leaflets back to the party's offices two days before Sunday's election.

The AfD, which polls show with support of about 11%, said the "fraudulent operation" appeared to have been carried out by members of a Berlin-based art group called the Centre for Political Beauty.