An anti-Islam activist who was stabbed in an attack at a far-right rally in Germany described the attack as an “absolute nightmare”, warning that the attack was an “attack on our free democratic state”.
Michael Stuerzenberger, a well-known critic of German Islam, a police officer and four other people were injured when the man launched a frenzied attack in Mannheim on Friday.
Stuerzenberger, who was seen preparing to speak to a small crowd at a livestream earlier in the morning, was rushed to hospital before undergoing successful surgery for puncture wounds to his face.
A 25-year-old Afghan man, who was shot and wounded by police, has been released from hospital and remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.
Speaking for the first time from his hospital bed, Mr. Stuerzenberger said BILD: ‘It was like an apocalypse. He was stabbing me, even when I was lying on the ground and trying to fight him with my feet. “It really was a nightmare.”
And he added: ‘Every attack is an attack against all of us, against our free democratic State and against those who guarantee our security. Whoever attacks a police officer launches an attack against all of us.’
Anti-Muslim activist Michael Stuerzenberger (pictured) has been speaking from his hospital bed after being stabbed by a knife-wielding man at an anti-Islam demonstration in Germany.
The attacker was seen holding a sword several centimeters long as he carried out a terrifying attack.
Stuerzenberger appears on the YouTube live stream before the attack occurred.
Stuerzenberger posted this photo yesterday from his hospital bed after being stabbed by a knife.
The aftermath of the stabbing is seen in the German city of Mannheim
Describing the attack, he said: “We were about to start the event when he suddenly came towards us like a hurricane and stabbed one after another. It was crazy. I guess even the police were shocked.
He explained: “He stabbed me in the thigh and someone immediately isolated him. A stab wound above the knee could have been worse. Another one in the side of the chest, my arm is injured and three stab wounds in the head. My upper lip was cut and I have a deep cut on my jaw.
“I’m crossing my fingers (for the police officer) and I hope everything turns out well,” he added.
The 59-year-old posted a photo of himself on his Telegram channel from his hospital bed yesterday, showing a long, bandaged cut on his upper lip and cheek.
In another interview with Deutschland-Kurier he said: “Under the circumstances, I’m fine.” I’m happy for everyone involved because yesterday was a little soft. There could have been deaths. It was really bad what the Afghan did with his knife.
‘I have seen parts of the videos and the stab wound in the neck, twice, of the police officer. I hope his life is no longer in danger. It was a clear assassination attempt. Seven or eight stab wounds for me, one close to the lung, a little closer and that would have been it.
He added: “He definitely had (combat experience) when you look at the footage.”
“It was a lightning strike, so fast that I obviously had very deep wounds, you can see it on the side of my jaw.”
It was around 11:35 local time on Friday when chaos broke out when a man dressed in a dark hooded jacket, green shirt and sweatpants attacked with a knife, injuring six people, including Mr Stuerzenberger, who He was knocked to the ground and stabbed. his face and leg.
The other victims were five men aged 25, 36, 42 and 54.
The police arrived almost immediately and an officer jumped on one of the victims.
There was confusion as to why the officer jumped on the victim, but this gave the attacker the opportunity to stab the back of the officer’s head.
His colleagues were heard shouting “throw the knife!” However, when the man did not respond, the officers opened fire at point-blank range.
In a video following the incident, you can see a riot of people involved in a fight next to signs announcing a protest against Israel.
The group can be seen knocking each other down while a man in a blue coat punches another person on the ground several times.
The rampage began when a man wearing a dark hooded jacket and tracksuit (seen center right) tackled a BPE member to the ground and began violently swinging a large sword at him.
The man believed to be Stuerzenberger (right) falls to the ground after the initial attack as other BPE members push the killer away.
During the attack, bystanders tried to drag the killer away. One of his victims is seen with wounds on his thigh.
The wild sword is clearly seen in this screenshot from the YouTube live stream as the attack goes to stab the officer in the neck.
Other images captured the moment German police tackled a man to the ground after mistaking him for the attacker during a horrific stabbing spree in Mannheim, Germany.
The officers could be seen charging at the man and dragging him to the ground after they saw him punching another man on the ground.
After delivering a series of overhand punches, at least two police officers are seen charging at the man wearing the shiny coat until he knocks him to the ground.
Officers apparently approached the man believing he was the aggressor after seeing him punch the other individual who was already downed.
The attack was broadcast live on YouTube.
Stuerzenberger has been part of several far-right organizations, including the PEGIDA movement, which organizes regular marches in German cities.
A German court has remanded a 25-year-old Afghanistan-born man into custody on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the knife attack.
Authorities did not offer any information about the motive for Friday’s attack in Mannheim’s central square.
A statement from police and prosecutors said the suspect had lived in Germany since 2014, was married and had two children.
Residents of Mannheim’s city center were seen visibly upset as they laid flowers and lit candles.
‘It’s definitely scary, this is our way home. We pass by (the market square) every day and think about what happened here and could happen again at any time,” Emilia, a 22-year-old student, who arrived at the scene to leave a bouquet, told MailOnline.
Residents of Mannheim were shocked by the frenzied attack and flocked to the market square to lay flowers and light candles for the victims.
Leo, 21, who also brought flowers to express his solidarity with the victims, added: “Seeing something like this happen in a place where we spend a lot of time and knowing that it could also have been a friend, my girlfriend or me standing there, That obviously really surprised me.
His apartment in the town of Heppenheim was searched on Friday night and digital devices were recovered by police and their contents are being assessed.
Authorities said the suspect, who was shot and wounded by police, is in the hospital and is not fit for questioning. They said he had no police record.
They have not revealed the suspect’s citizenship or immigration status or how he arrived in Germany.
The group Pax Europa describes itself as an organization that informs the public about the dangers posed by the “growing spread and influence of political Islam.”
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called Islamist extremism a “great danger.”
“I want to thank the police officers who intervened immediately and the doctors and paramedics who fight for the lives of the victims of this terrible crime,” said the minister.
