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Agence France-Presse

A far-right German politician was seriously injured in a “politically motivated” gang attack in the north of the country, police said on Tuesday.
Frank Magnitz, leader in Bremen of the anti-immigration populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD), was assaulted in the city centre on Monday afternoon.


“Given the victim’s work, we believe that this is a politically motivated act,” police said.
The AfD blamed anti-fascist activists, calling it an assassination attempt.
The party published a photo of Magnitz unconscious on a hospital bed, his face bleeding and swollen with a gash on his forehead.
It said three masked men had carried out the attack.
“They hit him with a piece of wood until he was unconscious and then kicked him on the ground,” a statement from the party said, adding that a builder intervened to stop the assault. “Today is a dark day for democracy in Germany.”
‘Enemies of the constitution’: German authorities take aim at far-right party’s youth wing
AfD leader Joerg Meuthen tweeted that Magnitz was “beaten almost to death” in a “cowardly and sickening” attack.
Johannes Kahrs, an MP from the Social Democrats, junior partners in the ruling coalition, said “violence is never acceptable” and “extremism in any form is rubbish”. He wished Magnitz a quick recovery.
Cem Ozdemir of the opposition Greens party said he hoped those responsible could be “found and convicted soon” and, even against a far-right party, “nothing justifies violence”.
“Those who fight hate with hate only allow hate to win in the end,” said the politician of Turkish origin.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert wrote on Twitter that the “brutal attack” was “to be condemned sharply”.
“Hopefully the police will succeed in catching the perpetrators quickly,” he wrote.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said there was “absolutely no justification” for the use of violence despite political differences: “Anyone who carries out such a crime must be punished.”

Last week, an explosive device detonated in a rubbish bin damaged an AfD office in Saxony. Three suspects were detained.
And last weekend in Lower Saxony, the home of a local AfD politician was targeted with graffiti and a party office was attacked with a paint bomb.
Twenty-year-old suspect held over massive German politician data leak
The AfD entered Germany’s parliament with almost 13 per cent of the vote in September 2017, making it the strongest opposition party in the Bundestag lower house.
The party is expected to make gains in European elections in May and three regional polls in the former communist east later this year.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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Germany

Right-wing German MP seriously injured after beating by gang

An October 5, 2017 photo of AfD politician Frank Magnitz. Photo: AFP

Picture taken on September 26, 2018 shows Frank Magnitz, politician of the anti-immigration populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD), speaking during a session of the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) in Berlin. - Magnitz, AfD leader in Bremen, northwestern Germany, was seriously injured in a "politically motivated" gang attack, police said on January 8, 2019. (Photo by Fabian Sommer / dpa / AFP) / Germany OUT

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Politician Frank Magnitz lies in a hospital bed with gruesome head injuries after being pounced on by masked attackers


Politician Frank Magnitz lies in a hospital bed with gruesome head injuries after being pounced on by masked attackers.


Right-wing German MP seriously injured after beating by gang

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Politician Frank Magnitz lies in a hospital bed with gruesome head injuries after being pounced on by masked attackers

Politician Frank Magnitz lies in a hospital bed with gruesome head injuries after being pounced on by masked attackers