FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) 鈥 A 29-year-old German police officer has died of injuries suffered during a knife attack that left five other people injured on the central square of Mannheim, officials said Sunday.
The officer was stabbed several times in the head and neck by a 25-year-old immigrant from Afghanistan and underwent emergency surgery after the attack Friday, officials said. The officer was placed in an artificial coma but succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.
Chancellor posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was 鈥渄eeply grieved鈥 and that the officer's 鈥渃ommitment to the safety of us all deserves the highest recognition.鈥
Two dozen of the officer's colleagues paid tribute to their fallen comrade, removing their hats during a gathering Sunday at the site of the attack
The suspect was shot and wounded by another officer; he remained hospitalized and a judge has ordered him held on suspicion of attempted murder. Police and prosecutors have not provided a motive for the attack, saying the suspect was not in a condition to be questioned.
The attack took place during an event held by Pax Europa, which describes itself as an organization that informs the public about the dangers posed by the 鈥渋ncreasing spread and influence of political Islam.鈥 Michael St眉rzenberger, a 59-year-old anti-Islamist activist who is one of the group鈥檚 leading figures and has spoken at its events, was among those wounded.
The other victims were four men ages 25, 36, 42, and 54. The 54-year-old man suffered injuries that were initially life-threatening, but he was now out of danger.
