On Wednesday, Heinrich Koch, a candidate for the Alternative for Germany party (AfD), came under attack in Mannheim.
Despite attempts by the AfD to portray it as part of a concerted campaign by left-wing extremists against its members, police stated there were “no concrete indications” the suspect knew he was targeting a politician.
According to the AfD, the incident occurred when the candidate confronted the culprit who was vandalizing election posters close to a town plaza.
According to police, the suspect, 25, was transferred to a psychiatric institution after being arrested and exhibiting symptoms of mental illness.
Party authorities said that although the politician suffered a cut on his stomach and required stitches in his head, his injuries were not life-threatening.
The mayor of Mannheim, Christian Specht, denounced the incident and declared that the “violence that is currently taking hold in our society is intolerable.” Local AfD leader Markus Frohnmaier expressed his amazement and dismay.
A group that calls itself against “political Islam” had multiple members stabbed on Friday in Mannheim.
Pax Europa is an organization whose goal is to inform people about the dangers posed by the “increasing spread and influence of political Islam.”
Sunday saw the death of a 29-year-old police officer who was among six persons who were gravely hurt in Mannheim’s major square.
