German politician stabbed over support for refugees

[Only the Best]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34561531

A leading candidate in Cologne's mayoral race has been stabbed in the neck by a man claiming to be angry over the country's refugee policies.

Henriette Reker - an independent candidate supported by Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party - was seriously injured along with an aide. Three others suffered minor injuries.

Local police said Ms Reker, 58, was "stable, but not out of the woods".

Police have arrested a 44-year-old German national and Cologne resident.

The attacker told police he stabbed Ms Reker "because of anti-foreigner motives," senior police investigator Norbert Wagner said.

The suspect appeared to have acted alone and had no police record, Mr Wagner added.

Ralf Jager, a regional interior minister, said: "The first signs speak for a politically motivated act."

The attacker will undergo a psychiatric examination to establish whether that was his primary motive or whether he had a health problem.

A spokesman for Ms Merkel said the chancellor "expressed her shock and condemned this act".

Germany's interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, called the attack "appalling and cowardly".

City officials said the election would go ahead as planned. Ms Reker has been the head of Cologne's social affairs and integration department since 2010.

Ms Merkel has come under fire from some in Germany over the large numbers of refugees and migrants being allowed into the country.

Germany has said it expects 800,000 people to seek asylum this year, but a leaked report suggested the number could be as high as 1.5 million.

Politically-motivated attacks are relatively rare in Germany. In 1990, then-Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was shot while out campaigning, an attack that left him using a wheelchair.

A few months earlier, Oskar Lafontaine, then a prominent member of Germany's main opposition party, was stabbed in the neck by a mentally disturbed woman.

[Borgia]

Such a shame. Where people who wants to help others are attacked. We need more of those politicians.

Says the one from Saudi Arabia that is doing literally nothing to help the "refugees".

[Only the Best]

Says the one from Saudi Arabia that is doing literally nothing to help the "refugees".

Way to shit all over his nice sentiment. You act as if he has control over what Saudi Arabia does just because he's from there.

[primalmatter]

Such a shame. Where people who wants to help others are attacked. We need more of those politicians.

People who are causing suffering are now for once feeling the sting of it. I have no sympathy for people so quick to betray their countrymen. Shame he didn't have a bigger knife.

[McNeil]

She could've expected something like that to happen, its pretty known that not everyone is taking support for refugees so kindly. While I'm against more refugees coming into my country, I do not approve of violence unless its self defence. Trying to convince people with arguments doesn't always seem to do anything either though.

[TrumpIsPresident]

Most of people don't want a million refugees thrust into their society especially given the notions of security, cost, assimilation, and radical religious nature.

Its not surprising that one of those people resorted to violence.

After all when government doesn't act in the interest of its own people violence is the historical result.

[Wells]

People who are causing suffering are now for once feeling the sting of it. I have no sympathy for people so quick to betray their countrymen. Shame he didn't have a bigger knife.

Stop attempting to justify violence.

[GG you got me]

That's one way to make your dissent heard.

When are we going to reform these knife control laws? Jesus Christ think of the children.

[Deleted]

Now the main question should be: how dead would they all have been had the guy had a gun rather than a knife?

[GG you got me]

Now the main question should be: how dead would they all have been had the guy had a gun rather than a knife?

Or if he'd just slammed a car into her.

[Deleted]

People who are causing suffering are now for once feeling the sting of it. I have no sympathy for people so quick to betray their countrymen. Shame he didn't have a bigger knife.

Several people got stapped today for their Political Views by a Nazi supporter.

We have a Democratic System. If you do not like her views then you do not vote for her or her party. You could even go and support another Candidate.

What you do not do however is violate democracy and stap people because someone does not share your views.

[Queen of Hamsters]

Will no doubt happen again. When people feel as if their government ain't listening, some will resort to violence without fail.

[Exception]

Says the one from Saudi Arabia that is doing literally nothing to help the "refugees".

I fail to see what that has to do with anything. Anyway, Saudi Arabia has taken in hundreds of thousands of refugees, as well as provided financial aid to Arab countries where most refugees are.

[primalmatter]

Stop attempting to justify violence.

The pen is mightier then the sword. When the pen fails however you must use the sword.

People don't want to become the next Sweden where it is illegal to criticize refugees. People will fight for what is theirs forget it at your own peril

[Wells]

The pen is mightier then the sword. When the pen fails however you must use the sword.

People don't want to become the next Sweden where it is illegal to criticize refugees. People will fight for what is theirs forget it at your own peril

Stop attempting to justify violence.

[Daedius]

I'd wish worse for all PC politicians tbh...

[Shadowmelded]

Not surprising. The anti-refugee side have been burning down refugee centers and stoking tensions for a while now. Entirely predictable when your 'movement' is based on hatred and division. At least they're not discriminating based on ethnicity who they subject to violence, which is a step forward for them I guess.

[Deleted]

This is only the start... we will start seeing more of this far-right violence if we don't regulate our refugee policy more strictly

[primalmatter]

This is only the start... we will start seeing more of this far-right violence if we don't regulate our refugee policy more strictly

What makes you think it was the right?

[Deleted]

What makes you think it was the right?

because the far left would not stab people over lenient refugee policies, in fact they'd very much love that kind of person.