Shocked neighbours say Afghan knifeman who stabbed six and killed a police officer at an anti-Islam rally in Germany has ‘radicalised’ during the last 12 months

Shocked neighbours of the Afghan knifeman who stabbed six and killed a police officer in Germany because the assault was livestreamed on-line stated he has ‘radicalised’ during the last 12 months.

The police introduced that the officer, who was stabbed within the neck and again throughout Friday’s assault, died in hospital at present whereas his killer continues to be alive after being shot on the scene. 

The attacker has been recognized as Sulaiman Ataee, 25, who immigrated to Germany from Afghanistan in 2014 when he was simply 15.

He lives together with his German spouse and their two youngsters, aged virtually 1 and three, in a flat in Heppenheim – only a 25-minute drive from the market sq. the place he stabbed six folks.

‘He was regular,’ 31-year-old Abdul, who lives in the identical constructing, instructed MailOnline after one other resident stated to native media that Ataee ‘has radicalised’ over the previous few months.

‘I’ve seen him generally together with his spouse and his youngsters, however I do not know that a lot about him,’ Abdul added.

‘He was inconspicuous, we greeted one another normally,’ one neighbour instructed Bild. 

‘However just lately, a couple of 12 months in the past, I seen that he had modified. He was useful earlier than, then instantly he turned chilly. He instantly turned extra reserved – and in addition extra aggressive.’

‘He has modified,’ one other confirmed to Focus, including that Ataee appeared ‘barely extra aggressive’, which they stated prompted friction within the constructing.

When MailOnline rings the doorbell for his flat within the high-rise southwest of town centre, nobody solutions. The flat is abandoned and the curtains are drawn.

Ataee, who police stated has a sound residence allow for Germany, is alleged to have lived within the property for 3 years, in a flat on the ninth flooring of the 14-storey constructing.

Ataee rented his two-bedroom flat of just below 1000 sq. toes for roughly 800 euros a month. It’s not but recognized whether or not he was gainfully employed or whether or not he survived on advantages.

The killer’s flat is positioned in a populated space, with a bus cease proper exterior the property and several other retailers and eating places in strolling distance.

There are additionally two playgrounds close by. ‘I noticed him on the playground with the youngsters just some days in the past,’ a resident instructed outlet Focus.

‘I used to be flabbergasted once I heard that the person who stabbed folks in Mannheim lived in our home,’ one other stated in a dialog with native newspaper Echo.

Knifeman Ataee, who is alleged to personal a VW Passat automotive, ‘did not appear to be a nasty man’. The person added: ‘I’d have by no means anticipated him to do one thing like that.’

‘In hindsight you need to be glad that nothing occurred to you,’ a neighbour stated to Bild.

In a constructing with 14 residential flats, it is easy to maintain to oneself, which Ataee principally did, in accordance with a person residing within the space.

The 35-year-old, whose dad and mom reside in the identical high-rise because the knifeman, instructed MailOnline: ‘Not one of the residents who I do know or my dad and mom know have seen the police even raid the flat on Friday night time – not to mention the attacker.’

One neighbour instructed Focus about Ataee’s spouse: ‘She was chilly, not as pleasant as him.’ One other added that whereas each have been quiet and appeared pleasant, they by no means actually spoke to anybody in any respect.

‘I simply really feel sorry for his spouse and youngsters. They need to endure now due to what that man did,’ a girl, who lives on the identical flooring because the killer, stated.

Some residing within the property stated the spouse, who at all times wore a hijab and glasses, disappeared earlier than police searched the household dwelling late Friday and her present whereabouts will not be recognized.

Additionally it is unclear whether or not she knew in regards to the assault beforehand. However a member of the constructing’s board instructed native Mannheimer Morgenpost: ‘They in all probability knew what he was planning on doing.’

Ataee was not recognized to be a member within the native Anas Ibn Malik Mosque and did not commonly come to hope there, insiders instructed native media.

Officers from the mosque stated they have been horrified by the assault and emphasised that they ‘condemn any type of violence and clearly distance themselves from extremist views’.

Throughout the search of the attacker’s dwelling – which lasted solely two hours – investigators seized a number of knowledge carriers for evaluation.

Town of Mannheim has been in deep shock because the assault, as locals have revealed.

Tensions are excessive as far-right campaigners declare the stabbing wouldn’t have occurred if Ataee was made to ‘remigrate’ again to Afghanistan.

Members of the right-wing AfD and Junge Freiheit events held a protest on Mannheim’s market sq. on Sunday afternoon, as pro-peace activists held a counter protest.

However chaos broke out when far-left Antifa activists began their chants as they pushed ahead, which prompted dozens of armed law enforcement officials run to their group and herd them collectively as they aimed pepper spray on the group.

Not less than one man was arrested and led one of many many police vans on the scene in handcuffs.