A municipal candidate for the far-right Alternative for Germany party was slashed with a box cutter in the western German city of Mannheim, the authorities said on Wednesday.
While the police said that the incident on Tuesday night did not appear to be politically motivated, it came four days after a knife attack on members of an anti-Islam party in the same city, which raised concerns about more violence in the prelude to Sunday’s vote in Germany for the European Parliament.
The attack on Tuesday occurred after the candidate, Heinrich Koch, who is running for municipal office in Mannheim, noticed a man “taking down and slashing” Alternative for Germany campaign posters, according to Emil Sänze, a party spokesman in the state of Baden-Württemberg, which includes Mannheim.
After Mr. Koch confronted him, the man attacked Mr. Koch with a box cutter, Mr. Sänze said.
Mr. Koch was taken to a hospital for stitches on Tuesday night but is expected to make a full recovery, according to Mr. Sänze.
Persons:
Heinrich Koch, Emil Sänze, Koch, Mr, Sänze
Organizations:
Parliament
Locations:
Germany, German, Mannheim, Baden