Angela Merkel Booed By Anti-Immigration Protesters During Refugee Visit

 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauckon visited a refugee site on Wednesday that has recently been home to anti-immigration protests.

Protesters booed the leaders upon their arrival, the AFP reported. 

Deutsche Welle reporter Naomi Conrad shared a photo of the less-than-warm welcome:

 The visit came amid heightening tensions around immigration countrywide. Over the weekend, violent clashes between anti-refugee protesters and police erupted outside a hardware store in the eastern German town of Heidenau. The store is a shelter for hundreds of migrants, many of whom are Syrian.

Merkel condemned the protests as "repulsive," though she also received criticism for not addressing the unrest until Monday.

According to the AP, there have been over 200 attacks against refugees in Germany this year. Protesters in Heidenau were heard using outlawed Nazi chants.

German officials estimate that about 800,000 refugees will seek shelter this year, the AFP reports. Many citizens have welcomed refugees, and the government has taken a vocal pro-immigration stance in the face of a growing crisis.