Germans make migration plea after knifeman kills police officer at political rally

A deadly knife attack in Germany has seen the country erupt into chaos, with even the most moderate voters airing their views on migration.

Sulaiman Ataee, a 25-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, is suspected of having launched a frenzied attack in the central square of the German city of Mannheim on Friday, as a far-right political rally was taking place.

The stabbing incident, which unfolded while the event was live-streamed on YouTube, resulted in the wounding of anti-Islam activist Michael Sturzenberger, one of the leading figures in the Pax Europa group organising the event.

Four other men aged between 25 and 54 were wounded, while a 29-year-old police officer suffered serious injuries and died on Sunday.

The incident, the motive of which is still being investigated, left the local community shaken, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying he was "deeply grieved" by the death of the young policeman.

Now, just days before the European elections in which migration is expected to be one of the main issues to be considered by voters, Mr Scholz's government is facing calls to tighten measures against Islamic extremism.

Ricarda Lang, the co-leader of the Alliance 90/The Greens party which has historically campaigned in favour of the integration and chances for migrants in Germany, said during a talk show: "Islamism is the enemy of a free society. And it must be treated as such and must be combated, in terms of security policy and society as a whole. There can be no excuses, no justifications."

Some everyday citizens in favour of open borders and immigration also suggested more care should be taken into monitoring people possibly holding extremist views.

Mannheim resident Angela told the MailOnline: "One needs to find out whether they have any beliefs or sentiments that don't belong here. And if you came here illegally and don't even work, there need to be consequences.

"There's so many migrants who integrated well here, you can't lump them all together, but not everyone is like that.

"At one point we might have to say stop and help integrate the people that are already here before everything again."

Her husband Achim added: "The government needs to do something and set apart some money for this. We already have a cafe specifically to help people integrate into German society, but there's so many migrants now, it's not enough for all of them."

Ataee reportedly lived in an apartment block in Heppenheim with his German wife and two young children, and has been described as "well integrated" in German media.

He reached Germany from his homeland aged 14 and settled down in a youth residential group in the state of Hesse.

While his application for asylum was rejected, authorities decided not to deport him due to his young age.

He was eventually awarded a residence permit after creating a family in Germany.