Afghan-born man remanded in custody over Mannheim knife attack
Officials said the suspect, who was shot and wounded by police, is in hospital and not in a condition to be questioned.
A 25-year-old man born in Afghanistan has been remanded in custody by a German court on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with a knife attack at an event organised by a group opposing “political Islam”.
The six victims included a police officer who remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries after he was stabbed while trying to intervene, police and prosecutors said.
Officials offered no information regarding the motive for the attack on Friday on the central square in Mannheim.
A statement from police and prosecutors said that the suspect had lived in Germany since 2014, was married and has two children. His apartment in the town of Heppenheim was searched on Friday night and police recovered digital devices and the contents are being evaluated.
Officials said that the suspect, who was shot and wounded by police, is in hospital and not in a condition to be questioned. They said he had no prior police record.
They have not disclosed the suspect’s citizenship or immigration status or how he came to Germany.
The group, Pax Europa, describes itself as an organization that informs the public about the dangers posed by the “increasing spread and influence of political Islam”.
Michael Sturzenberger, an anti-Islamist activist who is one of the group’s leading figures and has spoken at its events, was among those wounded.
Mr Sturzenberger, 59, posted a picture of himself on his Telegram channel from his hospital bed, showing a long, bandaged cut on his upper lip and cheek.
He said he had suffered “significant blood loss” from a stab wound in his thigh as well as a cut on his jaw that had been stapled shut.
The other victims were five men aged 25, 36, 42 and 54.
The 25-year-old man has been released from hospital while the others are still being treated.
