German Mayoral Candidate Stabbed In The Neck

[Jeevan]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3277229/German-mayoral-candidate-stabbed-neck-targeted-support-refugees.html

German mayoral candidate stabbed in the neck after being targeted 'because of her support for refugees'

• Mayoral candidate for German city Cologne, Henriette Reker, was stabbed
• Police said a 44-year-old man sprang on her as she campaigned in the city
• An aide was seriously injured, while three others received minor injuries
• Ms Reker has been instrumental in organising accommodation for refugees

By Imogen Calderwood For Mailonline

Published: 17:36, 17 October 2015 | Updated: 00:52, 18 October 2015

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Henriette Reker, who is running for mayor of the city of Cologne as an independent, and one of her aides were left severely injured after being stabbed

A German mayoral candidate has been stabbed in the neck in an attack with 'anti-foreigner motives'.

Henriette Reker, who is running for mayor of the city of Cologne as an independent, and one of her female aides were left severely injured in the savage assault.

Police believe that she was targeted because of her extensive work in housing Germany's refugees.

Germany’s interior minister said the attack underlined growing concerns over hatred and violence during the refugee crisis.

German leader Angela Merkel expressed her 'shock' following news of the attack.

Ms Reker, 58, currently heads Cologne’s social affairs and integration department and is responsible for refugee housing.

A 44-year-old man sprang on the pair while they were campaigning in the western city, the fourth largest in Germany, police said.

The German national and resident of Cologne said he had been unemployed for several years.

He told officials that he targeted Ms Reker and that ‘he wanted to and did commit this act because of anti-foreigner motives’, according to Norbert Wagner, head of the police criminal investigation unit in Cologne.

Three other people were also injured, although not seriously.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere described the stabbing as ‘an attack on our democracy’ and said he had long been ‘concerned by the hate-filled language and violent actions that accompany the refugee debate in Germany’.

‘This cowardly attack in Cologne is further evidence of the increasing radicalisation of the refugee debate,’ he continued.

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A 44-year-old man sprang on the pair while they were campaigning in the western German city, police said

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Cologne Police Chief Wolfgang Albers said Ms Reker has been involved in the supporting and helping to house refugees in the city

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Chancellor Angela Merkal, Germany's leader, has expressed 'shock' at the news of the attack. Ms Merkel’s policy has led to growing tensions in Germany, triggering a backlash from her conservative allies and spawning a growing number of increasingly vocal far-right protests