A man wielding a knife was shot by the police on Friday after he stabbed six people, including a police officer, in the western German city of Mannheim. The officer who was stabbed is in grave condition, according to the public attorney’s office in Karlsruhe.
Another of the victims was Michael Stürzenberger, a political activist known for his anti-Islamist views. Mr. Stürzenberger was campaigning with members of the Civic Movement Pax Europa, a small right-wing group, in a market square on Friday morning ahead of next month’s European Union elections.
Four other members of the group were also injured, according to a statement issued by the police.
The police have not confirmed the attacker’s identity or released any information about what prompted the stabbings.
“If the investigations reveal an Islamist motive, then this would be yet another confirmation of the great danger posed by violent Islamist acts, of which we have warned,” Nancy Faeser, the German interior minister, said in a statement.
The police officer was stabbed several times in the back of the head when he tried to stop the assault, the police said. Another officer shot and subdued the attacker, the authorities said. All of the victims were taken to area hospitals, where several had to undergo emergency surgery. By Friday night, the police said, two of the victims had been discharged.
Mr. Stürzenberger was known to the authorities, including Bavaria’s domestic intelligence agency, for his anti-Islamist views.
Germany has noted an uptick in attacks on politicians and campaign workers in recent months.
“Violence is not acceptable in our democracy,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a social media post after the attack. “The perpetrator must be severely punished.”
