THE policeman stabbed in Friday’s horror attack in Germany has died, local authorities have announced.
The 29-year-old officer was savagely assaulted and stabbed in the head during the frenzied knife attack at the Mannheim anti-Islam rally.
The attacker lunges towards other rally workers
APGerman police officers pay their respects to the man after hearing about his tragic death[/caption]
APThe officer was taken to hospital for emergency surgery and placed in a coma[/caption]
A police statement after the stabbing said: “He stabbed the police officer several times in the head.”
The officer was taken to hospital for emergency surgery immediately after the attack.
He was placed in an induced coma on Friday but was pronounced dead on Sunday.
HOW THE ATTACK UNFOLDED
At around 11.30am local time, a YouTube live stream captured the moment a bearded man launched his attack, brandishing a huge knife.
He lunges at Stürzenberger before they both tumble to the floor and appears to stab him in the face, neck and chest.
Shocking footage shows blood dripping from a hole in his jeans and dripping near his eyes.
Other men dressed in blue, who appear to have been involved in the rally, attempt to pull the attacker from his victim.
Police soon swarm the scene and one of the officers is attacked by the knifeman.
He holds a bloodied hand to his left ear as he kneels next to someone on the ground.
Two cops then aim their guns at the attacker as he lies on the ground and a shot rings out.
The knifeman rolled onto his back, laid still, and died, Bild reports.
Four other people were wounded during the rampage and no information has been revealed yet on their condition.
Local authorities said yesterday: “All of the injured were subsequently taken to various hospitals, where some of them had to undergo emergency surgery.”
Cops have not revealed the identity of the suspect, but German media claim he is a 25-year-old who was born in Afghanistan and lives in Germany.
German interior minister Nancy Faeser said on Friday afternoon: “The investigation will clarify the background to this crime.
“If the investigation reveals an Islamist motive, then that would be further confirmation of the great danger posed by Islamist acts of violence that we have warned about.”
Stefanie Kizina, treasurer of the BPE group, told Bild: “This was not an attack, but an act of terror.
“The attack happened before the event even started, it must have been planned well in advance.”
Mannheim Police said after the attack: “According to current information, an attack on several people took place today at around 11:35 a.m. on the market square in Mannheim.
“One person is said to have attacked several people with a knife and injured them. No information can be given yet about the extent and severity of the injuries.
“A firearm was then used against the attacker. The attacker was also injured as a result.”
The police added: “Rescue and emergency services as well as the rescue helicopter are in action. There is no danger to the public.
“Rail traffic between the Kurpfalzkreisel and Paradeplatz is closed until further notice.”
Minutes after the rampage, forensic investigators, masked special forces, and state criminal police officers arrived on scene.
Pictures show investigators on the scene yesterday afternoon – cleaning up the blood and setting up forensic testing.
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