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German pro-immigration mayors get death threats | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Cologne mayor Henriette Reker, who survived a serious knife attack in 2015, has received a death threat just days after another German politician was shot dead, police say. | |
Ms Reker was previously targeted because of her pro-immigration stance. | Ms Reker was previously targeted because of her pro-immigration stance. |
At least one other pro-immigration mayor has been threatened, police said. | At least one other pro-immigration mayor has been threatened, police said. |
Authorities have said a person detained in connection with the shooting of Walter Lübcke earlier this month may be linked to a far-right network. | Authorities have said a person detained in connection with the shooting of Walter Lübcke earlier this month may be linked to a far-right network. |
Police have not said if the latest threats are connected to the death of Mr Lübcke. | Police have not said if the latest threats are connected to the death of Mr Lübcke. |
Investigators in Cologne said the note to Ms Reker may have been sent by a right-wing extremist, but did not provide further details, local media report. | Investigators in Cologne said the note to Ms Reker may have been sent by a right-wing extremist, but did not provide further details, local media report. |
Ms Reker, 62, said she would not be deterred by death threats or "retreat" from doing the job that she has been tasked to do, the newspaper Bild reported (in German). | Ms Reker, 62, said she would not be deterred by death threats or "retreat" from doing the job that she has been tasked to do, the newspaper Bild reported (in German). |
Another person police said had received a threatening note was Andreas Hollstein, the mayor of Altena - a western German town known for having accepted more than its quota of migrants. | Another person police said had received a threatening note was Andreas Hollstein, the mayor of Altena - a western German town known for having accepted more than its quota of migrants. |
In November 2017, Mr Hollstein was stabbed and needed hospital treatment. | In November 2017, Mr Hollstein was stabbed and needed hospital treatment. |
How was Ms Reker previously attacked? | How was Ms Reker previously attacked? |
In October 2015, a day before she was elected mayor of Cologne, Ms Reker was stabbed in the neck and seriously injured while out campaigning. | In October 2015, a day before she was elected mayor of Cologne, Ms Reker was stabbed in the neck and seriously injured while out campaigning. |
A 45-year-old man, named as Frank S, was convicted of attempted murder and jailed for 14 years. | A 45-year-old man, named as Frank S, was convicted of attempted murder and jailed for 14 years. |
He had links with right-wing groups and had targeted Ms Reker over her welcoming stance to refugees, a court found. | He had links with right-wing groups and had targeted Ms Reker over her welcoming stance to refugees, a court found. |
Ms Reker was head of refugee housing in Cologne at the time. | Ms Reker was head of refugee housing in Cologne at the time. |
During her testimony, Ms Reker said she was "very worried that I could be paralysed'' and that she had suffered from nightmares. | During her testimony, Ms Reker said she was "very worried that I could be paralysed'' and that she had suffered from nightmares. |
She was put in an induced coma after the attack, which occurred at the height of Germany's refugee influx, and took over as mayor a month later. | She was put in an induced coma after the attack, which occurred at the height of Germany's refugee influx, and took over as mayor a month later. |
What happened to Walter Lübcke? | What happened to Walter Lübcke? |
Mr Lübcke, 65, was a leading member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling centre-right CDU party and a supporter of her refugee policies. | Mr Lübcke, 65, was a leading member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling centre-right CDU party and a supporter of her refugee policies. |
In the early hours of Sunday 2 June, Mr Lübcke was found dead on the terrace of his home in the village of Istha, police said. He had died as the result of a bullet fired at close range. | In the early hours of Sunday 2 June, Mr Lübcke was found dead on the terrace of his home in the village of Istha, police said. He had died as the result of a bullet fired at close range. |
Police immediately ruled out suicide and the case was taken over by federal prosecutors. | Police immediately ruled out suicide and the case was taken over by federal prosecutors. |
A suspect with links to far-right groups and a history of violence was later arrested based on DNA evidence from the scene, officials said. | A suspect with links to far-right groups and a history of violence was later arrested based on DNA evidence from the scene, officials said. |
They added that prosecutors were investigating whether the suspect acted alone or as part of a wider group. | They added that prosecutors were investigating whether the suspect acted alone or as part of a wider group. |
Mr Lübcke, who is survived by a wife and two grown-up children, came to national prominence in October 2015 when he spoke out in favour of providing accommodation for refugees. | Mr Lübcke, who is survived by a wife and two grown-up children, came to national prominence in October 2015 when he spoke out in favour of providing accommodation for refugees. |
Germany had decided to let in Syrians fleeing the civil war, and large numbers of asylum seekers were crossing Germany's borders on a daily basis. | Germany had decided to let in Syrians fleeing the civil war, and large numbers of asylum seekers were crossing Germany's borders on a daily basis. |
He reportedly received death threats and was given personal protection after telling a rowdy town hall meeting they had to stand up for Christian values. | He reportedly received death threats and was given personal protection after telling a rowdy town hall meeting they had to stand up for Christian values. |
Right-wing sentiment and extremism have been fuelled in Germany in recent years with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people seeking asylum. | Right-wing sentiment and extremism have been fuelled in Germany in recent years with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people seeking asylum. |
Last year, a deadly stabbing involving a Syrian and an Iraqi in the east German city of Chemnitz sparked mass protests by far-right activists. Counter protests followed, leading to violence and a number of injuries. | Last year, a deadly stabbing involving a Syrian and an Iraqi in the east German city of Chemnitz sparked mass protests by far-right activists. Counter protests followed, leading to violence and a number of injuries. |
Mrs Merkel has previously said that "vigilante justice" will not be tolerated. | Mrs Merkel has previously said that "vigilante justice" will not be tolerated. |
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