A man attacked six people with a knife, including a policeman, in a market square in the southwestern German city of Mannheim, according to the police.
One of the injured was anti-Islam activist Michael Sturzenberger, who was preparing to hold a rally in the square, according to his group, the BBC reported.
The incident was filmed live on YouTube and shows the attacker stabbing a man and then a police officer who went to help him. The officer is in critical condition.
The attacker was shot and wounded by another police officer.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the incident as “terrible” and stated that his thoughts are with the victims.
He wrote in X: “Violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy. The perpetrator must be severely punished.“
Die Bilder aus Mannheim sind furchtbar. Mehrere Personen sind von einem Attentäter schwer verlettt worden. Meine Gedanken sind bei den Opfern. Gewalt is absolut inakzeptabel in unserer Demokratie. Der Täter muss streng bestraft werden.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) May 31, 2024
The police in Mannheim announced on Twitter about a “major police operation” in the city's market square, and a rescue helicopter was sent to the scene.
According to Bild, among the victims is the German politician and critic of Islam Michael Sturzenberger.
His colleague, Stephanie Kizina, told the newspaper that Mr. Sturzenberger needed surgery, but that his life was not in danger.
„The attack happened even before the start of the event, it must have been planned much earlier,”, she said.
The police did not release any further information about the injured in the attack.
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 Pfizer said the attack was likely Islamist-motivated.