Colleagues are mourning the 29-year-old police officer Ruben L., who died in hospital two days after fighting for his life. He was taken gravely injured by the blows from the 25-year-old Afghan during an attack at a political gathering in Mannheim last Friday. As stated in a Mannheim police announcement, the 29-year-old “gave his life to protect others.”
According to information from Bild, the knife of the 25-year-old Afghan pierced the skull of the unfortunate police officer, injuring a major vessel and possibly a vein in the brain. “Ruben was always present wherever there was a crisis in recent years. He always gave his best. We can’t believe we lost him,” colleagues of the 29-year-old police officer told the German newspaper.
“I hoped he would make it. It’s awful news. I can’t find words to describe it. Condolences to his family, loved ones, and those he leaves behind. It’s terrible,” said Michael Sturzenberger.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: Primavera evacuation – Watch video and view photos
Several individuals were injured in a stabbing during a YouTube livestream in Mannheim, Germany. The attack, which occurred this morning, was broadcast live, showing the assailant dragging a man to the ground while wielding a knife. Bystanders quickly intervened to assist the… pic.twitter.com/FzMpN6x3z2
— Huginn and Muninn Intelligence (@HM_Int3lligence) May 31, 2024
The fatal attack
As seen in videos circulating on social media, during an open political event of the ‘Pax Europa’ movement in the central square of Mannheim, the 25-year-old Afghan Sulaiman A. attacked Michael Sturzenberger, known throughout Germany for his Islamophobic rhetoric, with a knife, injuring him in the leg and face.
Police forces were at the scene to guard the gathering and intervened within seconds. Initially, a private security guard of the organizers attempted to immobilize the assailant, and soon after, at least four police officers took action, with the unfortunate 29-year-old receiving two stabs before a colleague finally subdued the 25-year-old Afghan assailant by shooting him in the leg.
According to Der Spiegel magazine, Sulaiman A. was born in Herat, Afghanistan, and lived about 40 kilometers from Mannheim, in Hesse. Until today, he was not known to authorities as a radicalized or violent Islamist.
News today: