A brutal knife attack took place in the German city of Mannheim on Friday during a demonstration of a right-wing populist citizen movement. An unknown person attacked several people, including an Islam critic and a police officer. There were several injured. A law enforcement officer eventually shot the attacker.
Videos currently being shared on social media show the yet-unknown perpetrator attacking another man. He stabbed him in the neck with a knife around 11.35 am. The crime scene is Mannheim’s market square.
Right-wing rally disrupted
According to media reports, the victim is Bavarian Islam critic Michael Stürzenberger. According to the newspaper ‘Bild’, at the time of the attack he was holding a meeting for the right-wing populist citizen movement Pax Europa. The 59-year-old previously worked as a press spokesperson for the Bavarian ruling party CSU.
After the death of a friend in the Islamist terrorist attacks in the Indian metropolis of Mumbai in 2008, he became increasingly radicalized and committed himself to the fight against Islam, including in the right-wing extremist movement Pegida, reports ‘Focus’. He was therefore also observed by the Bavarian State Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
“Stop Political Islam!”
A German and an Israeli flag flew on one of the movement’s stands. One poster demanded: “Stop political Islam!” The attack appears planned because the attacker specifically targeted the speaker.
The health status of the victims is unclear
As the scene continued, passersby tried to stop the knife attacker but he broke free and attacked a police officer, stabbing him in the back. Finally, another officer shot the man. The health status of the victims is currently unclear. The exact number of victims is still unclear. According to Bild, three people were injured. All were taken to hospitals.
A police spokeswoman confirmed the incident and said there was no danger to anyone else involved. A rescue helicopter and several rescue workers have currently been deployed.
Political background?
The motive for the crime is currently unclear. Whether the knife attack had a political background is the subject of investigation. According to the police, the market square was cordoned off and privacy walls were also erected. Mannheim’s market square is located right in the city center of the 300,000-resident city in northern Baden-Württemberg.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
