Germany’s Finance Minister has said that the country must defend itself “against Islamist terrorism with determination” after a police officer – who was repeatedly stabbed during an attack by a knife-wielding man on a political rally – died.
The motive of the 25-year-old assailant, who was reportedly born in Afghanistan, is still unclear. Named as 25-year-old Sulaiman Ataee, he was unknown to the police. He sustained gunshot wounds during his capture, police said and is undergoing surgery.
Minister Christian Lindner told the German daily Bild that the death of the 29-year old police officer “moves me deeply and makes me angry about what is happening in our country”.
“We must defend ourselves against Islamist terrorism with determination, and we will also strengthen the security authorities financially,” Mr Lindner said.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of the police officer following the “terrible attack”. “His commitment to the safety of all of us deserves the highest recognition,” Mr Scholz posted on X.
The knife-wielding man attacked and wounded several people on Friday in the city of Mannheim in southwest Germany. Six people taking part in a rally organized by Pax Europa, a campaign group against radical Islam, were wounded in the attack according to police in the German state of Baden Wuerttemberg.
“He stabbed the police officer several times in the head,” a police statement said, adding the officer underwent emergency surgery immediately after the attack and was placed in an induced coma but succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the attack. “If the investigations reveal an Islamist motive, this would be a further confirmation of the great danger posed by Islamist acts of violence,” she said in a statement.
The shocking attack was captured on video as it took place in the middle of a livestream during preparations for a rally by Pax Europa.
The video shows the man lunging at numerous people with a large knife in his hand with Michael Stürzenberger, an outspoken activist and critic of Islam, sustaining what appears to be multiple stab wounds.
Stefanie Kizina, treasurer of the Pax Europa told Bild: “This was not an attack, but an act of terror. The attack happened before the event even started, it must have been planned well in advance.”