MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Henriette Reker, 58, was seriously wounded in the neck one day ahead of the vote in what police suspect was a xenophobic knife attack.
"We stand here together as Democrats, to make a stand against this despicable act," North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hannelore Kraft said as quoted by the Rheinische Post.
Merkel-backed mayoral candidate stabbed in Cologne. Some reports suggest attacker mentions too many migrants: http://t.co/EyhfEQG6OB
— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) October 17, 2015
The latest gathering follows a previous spontaneous rally that brought together 200 citizens outside the Cologne town hall.
Four witnesses sustained injuries while attempting to stop a 44-year-old assailant from stabbing Reker at a farmers market, according to the publication.
Assassination attempt on Cologne mayor candidate shocking, but after year of Pegida protest, recently including mock gallows, not surprising
— Alexander Clarkson (@APHClarkson) October 17, 2015
Reker’s official website said the knife attack left her campaign "deeply shocked" – as were outgoing Cologne Mayor Juergen Roters and Chancellor Angela Merkel – but said the local election will take place as planned.
"The democratic parties wish that a brisk turnout takes place and the outcome of the election remains unaffected," Reker's website said.
Rising anti-migrant sentiment in Germany comes amid Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since World War II, with an estimated 1.5 million newcomers expected in the country this year.
Today, a man stabbed a leading candidate for Cologne mayor, heavily injuring her. He reportedly uttered the words "Merkel" & "refugee glut".
— Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) October 17, 2015
