Mayoral candidate stabbed in the neck by knife attacker ‘in rage at refugee policy’

A leading mayoral candidate has been stabbed in the neck during a campaign stop in the German city of Cologne. Henriette Reker and an aide were both severely injured in the knife attack in a market on Saturday morning. Three others who tried to overwhelm the attacker were also hurt. The alleged knifeman was arrested and there were reports the 44-year-old was opposed to the country’s policies on refugees.

This is all wrong, what is being done here. I release you from such people.

What witnesses said the attacker was shouting

The attack happened as Ms Reker was visiting a campaign stand set up by Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats ahead of Sunday’s election. The 58-year-old, head of the city’s social affairs and integration department since 2010, is standing as an independent but is backed by the CDU. Outgoing mayor Juergen Roters said he was “deeply shocked” by the attack. Centre-left Social Democrat Jochen Ott, Reker’s main rival in the election, suspended his campaign but city officials said the election would go ahead as planned.

Ms Reker does everything for the city. It is inconceivable that people who volunteer, campaigning for society, suffer life-threatening injuries

Witness Ralph Sterck

Europe Cologne mayor