In Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, an unknown man stabbed a politician from the national-oriented party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
German media reported that the police had already detained the perpetrator. The politician is currently in hospital, his life is not in danger.
The incident occurred late Tuesday evening, but police did not officially confirm the stabbing until Wednesday, June 5. An unidentified man attacked the AfD municipal council candidate while he was placing election posters.
Markus Frohnmaier, co-chairman of the AfD regional office in Baden-Württemberg, stated:
We’re scared and concerned.
This is the second stabbing incident against politicians in Mannheim in recent times. On May 31, a refugee from Afghanistan attacked Michael Stürzenberger, a prominent critic of Islam and member of the civil movement Pax Europa, in the city centre. The activist suffered several serious stab wounds but survived.
One of the police officers who arrived on the call died in hospital as a result of being stabbed in the neck during the arrest.
After the incident, Germany raised the possibility of deporting Afghan and Syrian migrants. However, Germany stopped expelling refugees to Afghanistan after the Taliban took power there in 2021.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will address the Bundestag on security issues on June 6.
