Police shot a knife-wielding man on Friday after stabbing six people, including a police officer, in the western German city of Mannheim. The stabbed officer is in serious condition, according to the Karlsruhe prosecutor’s office.
Another victim was Michael Stürzenberger, a political activist known for his anti-Islam views. Stürzenberger was campaigning with members of the Pax Europa Civic Movement, a small right-wing group, in a market square on Friday morning ahead of next month’s European Union elections.
Four other members of the group were also injured, according to a statement issued by police.
Police have not confirmed the identity of the attacker or released any information about what led to the stabbings.
“If the investigations reveal an Islamist motive, then this would be another confirmation of the great danger posed by Islamist violent acts, of which we have warned,” Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Interior Minister, said in a statement.
The officer was stabbed several times in the back of the head as he tried to stop the assault, police said. Another officer shot and subdued the attacker, authorities said. All victims were taken to area hospitals, where several had to undergo emergency surgery. By Friday night, police said, two of the victims had been released.
Stürzenberger was known to authorities, including Bavaria’s internal intelligence agency, for his anti-Islamist views.
Germany has noted an increase in attacks against politicians and campaign workers in recent months.
“Violence is not acceptable in our democracy,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a social media post after the attack. “The perpetrator must be severely punished.”