Germany's domestic intelligence agency has said it will await a court ruling before moving forward with plans to classify the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a "right-wing extremist" movement, a step that could subject the party to broader surveillance and scrutiny of its activities.
The announced pause comes after the party filed a lawsuit in the western city of Cologne against the move by the BfV intelligence service and the party's supporters alleged a politically motivated crackdown.
