Knife attack in Mannheim: anti-Islam activist stabbed

Lina PortmanJune 1, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Legend, The attack on Mannheim's market square took place shortly before midday on Friday.

Author, Sarah Fowler
Role, BBC News
May 31, 2024, 2:04 p.m. BST

Updated 1 hour ago

A man attacked six people, including a police officer, with a knife at a market square in Mannheim, southwest Germany, police said.

One of those injured was anti-Islam activist Michael Stürzenberger, who was preparing to hold a rally in the square, according to his group.

The incident was filmed live on YouTube and showed the attacker stabbing a man, then a police officer coming to help him. The police officer is in critical condition.

The attacker was shot and injured by another police officer.

Video caption, Several injured in knife attack on Mannheim market square

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the incident as “terrible” and said his thoughts were with the victims.

He posted on X: “Violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy. The perpetrator must be severely punished.

Mannheim police tweeted about a “major police operation” at the city's market square and a rescue helicopter was sent to the scene.

A person attacked several others with a knife, injuring them, at 11:35 a.m. (10:35 a.m. BST), police said in a later statement.

A firearm was then used against the attacker, it is added.

The attack reportedly took place at the same time as a rally in the market square organized by far-right anti-Islam activist Michael Stürzenberger and his organization, the Pax Europa Citizens' Movement (BPE).

A spokeswoman for the city of Mannheim confirmed that the organization had planned an event on the market square for Friday morning.

BPE confirmed to the Bild newspaper that Mr Stürzenberger had been attacked in the leg and face.

His colleague Stefanie Kizina told the newspaper that Mr Stürzenberger had to undergo surgery, but that his life was not in danger.

“The attack happened before the event even started, it must have been planned well in advance,” she said.

Police have not released any further information about those injured in the attack.

Local newspaper Mannheimer Morgen reported that the attacker injured six people, including five BPE members and a police officer.

According to the DPA, the police officer was in critical condition and will have to undergo emergency surgery.

Legend, A far-right rally was to take place on the square at the time of the attack.

Live-streamed video of the event shows a man attacking people with a knife. At least one person has a leg injury.

A number of bystanders are seen struggling with the attacker, who later manages to free himself and stab a police officer in the back.

Several police officers armed with firearms then surrounded him, before he fell to the ground.

Police have not released the identity of the suspect, but German media say he is a 25-year-old man born in Afghanistan but living in Germany.

Although the motive has not been confirmed, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said it was possible the attack was motivated by Islamists.

Image source, Getty Images

Legend, Far-right activist Michael Stürzenberger was named by German media as one of the victims.

Who is Michael Stürzenberger?

According to Bild, Michael Stürzenberger is the author of an Islamophobic blog, as well as a member of the BPE, an organization which says it is opposed to the “Islamization” of Germany.

The 58-year-old is one of the authors of the anti-Muslim platform PI-News and is monitored by Bavarian domestic intelligence services.

A former politician, Mr. Stürzenberger led a small right-wing populist party, Die Freiheit, which dissolved in 2016.

Before that, he was a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU) – the Bavarian sister party of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) – but left before being expelled.