Violence Against Political Figures Rises Ahead of European Elections in Germany
A candidate for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party was stabbed in the southwest German city of Mannheim less than a week after a police officer was killed and five others were injured in a knife attack in the same city. The attack, which took place on Tuesday evening but was confirmed by police on Wednesday, left the man with non-life-threatening injuries and he is currently being treated in the hospital. The victim was identified as Heinrich Koch, the party's local council candidate. The stabbing occurred five miles away from where the previous attack took place in the district of Rheinau. Witnesses reported that Koch was attacked after confronting individuals who were tearing down party posters for the upcoming local and European elections. He was attacked in the stomach with a carpet knife. The attacker has been arrested. According to the local party leader, Koch is expected to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. The attacker is described as a left-wing extremist, although there is no official confirmation. The AfD party expressed horror and distress over the incident. The recent surge in violence against politicians in Germany has raised concerns, with incidents including a stabbing last Friday by an Afghan man whose asylum claim had been rejected, injuring several people including a policeman. The European election campaign in Germany has been tense, with various reported attacks on candidates from different political parties. The German government has vowed to tackle the rise in violence against politicians, emphasizing the need for a safe campaigning environment. Such incidents underscore the challenges faced by political figures during election periods and the need for enhanced security measures to protect candidates and ensure a democratic election process.
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