Right-wing extremist politician attacked with carpet knife in Germany

A local candidate from the far-right Alternative for Germany party was stabbed with a carpet knife in the western German city of Mannheim, authorities said on Wednesday.

While police said Tuesday night’s incident did not appear to be politically motivated, it came four days after a knife attack on members of an anti-Islam party in the same city, raising fears that there could be further violence in Germany ahead of Sunday’s European elections.

The attack on Tuesday occurred after Mannheim candidate Heinrich Koch for local office was noticed by a man “taking down and cutting up” election posters of the Alternative for Germany (AFD), according to Emil Sänze, party spokesman for the state of Baden-Württemberg, to which Mannheim belongs.

After Koch confronted him, the man attacked him with a box cutter, Sänze said. Koch was taken to hospital on Tuesday evening where his wounds required stitches, but he is expected to make a full recovery, Sänze said.

Mr Sänze said Mr Koch filmed the altercation, which helped police make the arrest.

Mannheim police said a 25-year-old man who showed “clear signs of mental illness” was arrested and taken to a closed psychiatric ward. Police added that they believe the suspect did not know that Koch was a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Concerns about political violence have increased in Germany following the first attack on Friday in Mannheim, when a man with a large knife stabbed five people fighting for a small anti-Islamic group in the central market square. A police officer who tried to intervene was also injured and later died.

The AfD has now stepped up its criticism of the government’s refugee policy, while politicians from other political camps are once again discussing how rejected asylum seekers can be deported. The suspect in Friday’s attack is an Afghan citizen who has lived in Germany for over a decade.

In addition to the election to the European Parliament, local elections will also take place in Baden-Württemberg on Sunday, in which Koch is a candidate.

Police and politicians in Germany have noted a rise in violence against candidates and campaign teams in recent weeks. Last month, Mathias Ecke, a candidate for the European Parliament for the Social Democrats who lead Germany’s coalition government, was attacked while putting up posters in Dresden, suffering a fractured cheekbone and eye socket.