World Courant
DPA by way of AP
The assault on Mannheim’s market sq. befell simply earlier than midday on Friday
A person attacked a variety of individuals with a knife in a market sq. within the southwestern German metropolis of Mannheim, police say.
One of many injured was anti-Islam activist Michael Stürzenberger, who, in accordance with his group, had ready for an indication on the sq..
The incident was captured on a YouTube livestream and confirmed the attacker stabbing a person, after which a police officer going to assist. The officer’s situation is vital.
The attacker was shot and wounded by one other police officer.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the incident as “horrible” and stated his ideas had been with the victims.
He posted on X: “Violence is totally unacceptable in our democracy. The perpetrator should be severely punished.”
Police in Mannheim tweeted a few “main police operation” within the metropolis’s market sq. and a rescue helicopter was despatched to the scene.
One particular person attacked a number of others with a knife at 11.35am (10.35am BST), leaving them injured, police stated in a follow-up assertion.
A firearm was then used in opposition to the attacker, it added.
The assault is claimed to have taken place concurrently a market sq. assembly organized by far-right anti-Islam activist Michael Stürzenberger and his group, the Residents’ Motion Pax Europa (BPE).
A spokeswoman for town of Mannheim confirmed that the group had registered an occasion in the marketplace sq. for Friday morning.
BPE confirmed to the Bild newspaper that Mr Stürzenberger had been attacked within the leg and face.
His colleague Stefanie Kizina informed the newspaper that Mr Stürzenberger must endure surgical procedure, however that his life is just not in peril.
“The assault occurred earlier than the occasion even began, it will need to have been deliberate properly prematurely,” she stated.
Police haven’t launched any additional details about these injured within the assault.
In accordance with DPA, a police officer was in vital situation and must endure emergency surgical procedure.
DPA by way of AP
On the time of the assault, an excessive right-wing assembly was going down on the sq.
A livestream video of the occasion reveals a person attacking individuals with a knife. No less than one particular person is seen with a wound on the leg.
Plenty of bystanders are seen scuffling with the attacker, who later manages to interrupt free and stab a police officer within the again.
A number of cops with firearms then encompass him earlier than he falls to the bottom.
Getty Pictures
Far-right activist Michael Stürzenberger has been named by German media as one of many victims
Who’s Michael Stürzenberger?
In accordance with Bild, Michael Stürzenberger is the creator of an Islamophobic weblog and a member of the BPE, a company that claims to oppose the “Islamization” of Germany.
The 58-year-old is without doubt one of the authors of the anti-Muslim platform PI-Information and is being monitored by the Bavarian home intelligence service.
Mr Stürzenberger, a former politician, as soon as led a small right-wing populist celebration Die Freiheit, which was dissolved in 2016.
He was beforehand a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU) – the Bavarian sister celebration of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) – however left earlier than being expelled.
