Independent German political leader Sahra Wagenknecht was assaulted with red paint yesterday during an election rally in Erfurt, Thuringia, where there will be local elections on September 1. Wagenknecht, who had just concluded her speech, was partially hit. She then fled behind the stage while security arrested the 50-year-old perpetrator. Soon after, Wagenknecht returned to the stage. She said that she was shocked, and recalled the life-threatening knife attack on her husband Oskar Lafontaine at an election rally in April 1990.
Her party, Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) is polling around 20% in the coming election in Thuringia. She has been an outspoken opponent of war with Russia.