A local candidate for Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Heinrich Koch, was injured in a knife attack, the party and police reported on Wednesday. This marks the second such incident in the city of Mannheim in recent days, following the killing of a police officer at an anti-Islam demonstration.
Koch was attacked with a cutter knife after confronting a suspect who was tearing down election posters near a town square. The police detained the 25-year-old suspect, who exhibited clear signs of mental illness and was subsequently taken to a psychiatric hospital.
The attack on Koch, who needed stitches for a head wound and had a cut on his stomach, is not life-threatening, according to the AfD. Party co-chief Alice Weidel described the incident as a “shocking act that leaves you stunned.”
The AfD has suggested that the attack is part of a targeted campaign by left-wing extremists against its members. However, police stated there was no concrete evidence that the suspect knew he was attacking an AfD politician.
Verbal and physical attacks on politicians in Germany have more than doubled since 2019, according to government data. This surge comes as the country prepares for European elections and local elections in three states, where the AfD is expected to perform strongly.
The knife attack follows another incident on Friday involving a 25-year-old originally from Afghanistan, which severely injured six people and led to calls for a tougher stance on migration.
