Mannheim stabbing LIVE: Second knife rampage in German city in days as one injured
The incident comes just days after a similar stabbing took place in the same location.
A second knife rampage in days has plunged Mannheim, Germany into chaos as a local council candidate was left injured.
The knife attack saw an AfD candidate struck with a knife late on Tuesday evening, the German Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Reports say the attacker was arrested.
It comes just days after another man attacked six others, including a police officer, in the city's market square.
Among the other victims included anti-Islam activist, Michael Stürzenberger, who had been preparing to hold a rally in the square, according to his group.
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Watch attack unfold
A video of the attack shows the moment Heinrich Koch confronted a young man with a carpet knife.
The AfD candidate can be seen chasing the man who is carrying campaign posters he has just taken down.
Mr Koch tells him to put them on the ground, before a scuffle breaks out and he falls to the ground.
He can them be heard shouting for help and the police, as the man makes a run for it.
Erneute Messe Angriff in Mannheim linksextremer sticht auf AfD Politiker ein, als er ihn erwischte, die AfD Plakate zu zerst\u00f6ren pic.twitter.com/RzN6E5kSSA
\u2014 Es reicht mir jetzt (@Esreicht2) June 5, 2024
AfD issues Express with statement on attack
The AfD's deputy chairman in Mannheim Ruediger Ernst has issued the Express with a statement about the attack.
"Last night around 10:30 p.m., our board colleague and candidate for the Mannheim municipal election, Heinrich Koch, was the victim of an attack by a left-wing extremist.
"Heinrich Koch caught a 'poster tearer' red-handed in Relaisstrasse near the market square in Mannheim-Rheinau. A total of three people were involved. Luckily, Koch had his video on his cell phone switched on when he approached the person. When he confronted the person, he was suddenly attacked by the person and seriously injured with a carpet knife.
"Because a citizen noticed this and called 110, the perpetrator was arrested immediately after the crime. The other two perpetrators managed to escape. Koch was taken to Mannheim Hospital by ambulance. Fortunately, it turned out that he did not suffer life-threatening injuries, just cuts. He probably prevented something worse from happening by defending himself.
"He has stitches on his head and a cut on his stomach.Initially it was said that he had been stabbed in the spleen. Fortunately, this turned out not to be the case. He is expected to be able to leave the hospital today.The perpetrator is currently in a cell and will be brought before a judge. The public prosecutor's office has filed a charge of attempted murder.
Moment AfD candidate confronts man with knife
The moment Heinrich Koch confronts a young man who tore down campaign posters has appaerently been captured on video.
In the photgraph below, a young man appears to be holding a knife in his right hand, while in his left are the campaign posters.
The image is purportedly from the confrontation.
Shocking video shows attack
The AfD has handed over a video recording of the attack to the German news agency dpa.
The dramatic images shows how the shocking attack unfolded.
The filmaker can be seen running after a younger man across the market square and shouting "Stop! Stop!".
The younger man is carrying several AfD election posters under his arm and appears to be holding a carpet knife.
"Lie down immediately," shouts the person filming. A scuffle then ensues. You can see the man swinging the knife, but the rest of the images are blurry.
Second attack in days
Last night's attack is the second such incident in less than a week.
A policeman was fatally stabbed in the head on Friday after a 25-year-old Afghan attacked a group of people attending an anti-Islam rally organised by Pax Europa.
Injured man named
The AfD has confirmed the identity of its candidate who was attacked last night by a knifeman.
The party told Die Welt publication that the candidate's name is Heinrich Koch, who is 59.
Shock and dismay - AfD
AfD state chairman Markus Frohnmaier has recently spoken to journalists about last night's attack.
He said party members were "in shock and dismay" and still trying to come to terms with what happened.
AfD accuse left-wing extremists of attack
The AfD has accused left-wing extremists of being behind the attack on their local candidate.
However they have provided no information to back up their claim.
Police arrest person in connection with attack
A person has been arrested in connction with the attack on the AfD candidate.
However as yet Mannheim police are refusing to give any details about the incident, other than to confirm there was a police operation last night.
What do we know so far
The incident happened last night at around 10.45pm local time, near the market square where a policeman was fatally stabbed last week.
A candidate standing in local elections for the populist right-wing AfD party came across a person tearing down campaign posters near the square.
When he confronted the person, he was attacked with a knife. The candidate suffered cuts and was taken to hospital for treatment. He is currently still in hospital but his injuries are not life thretening.
Where is Mannheim
Mannheim a city in southwest Germany, on the Rhine and Neckar rivers.
It is very close to the popular tourist destination of Heidelberg.
Good morning from London
Hello and welcome to this morning's live blog that will offering you the latest updates on what we know from the Germany attack.
John Varga will be here, taking you through the action.
