Political rally in Thuringia - SPD members face further attacks.
A resident (56) became furious during the local elections and attacked a city council candidate. As explained by the Thuringia state police spokesperson, the man pushed him, called him names, and tore one of his campaign flyers. The candidate felt pain after the incident but was uninjured. The police have started criminal proceedings for insult and assault against the attacker, and are investigating the motive.
Recently, there has been a spate of attacks on politicians and their campaign workers, which has sent shockwaves across the nation. MEP Matthias Ecke (41) from the SPD was viciously assaulted by a group while putting up posters in Dresden last weekend. He was hospitalized and later had to undergo surgery as a result of broken eye socket and cheekbone. Just before the attack, the same group is believed to have injured a Green Party campaign worker. A 17-year-old came forward and confessed to the crime. Police arrested three other individuals in connection with the attack. At least one of them is believed to hold extreme right-wing ideologies.
In another incident in Dresden, local Green Party politician Yvonne Mosler (47) was assaulted and threatened while putting up election posters. This follows the attack on Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (46) from the SPD in Berlin, after which a suspect was placed in a psychiatric ward. Members of the AfD have also been targeted for attacks.
Thuringia's President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Stephan Kramer, cautioned about the radicalization from all sides. Speaking on ARD's "Bericht aus Berlin," Kramer said, "It's not just from the right, but also from the left when we look at how left-wing extremists are taking violent action against right-wing extremists." He added that there's a radicalization going on, with both sides resorting to violence.
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Source: symclub.org
