The conservative mayor of a small town in western Germany was stabbed in the neck on Monday evening and seriously hurt.
The 57-year old mayor, Andreas Hollstein, is known for his liberal migrant policy.
A man who witnessed the attack in the town of Altena gave a description of the attack while talking with a German television.
According to witness, the attacker was probably under the influence of alcohol.
He stabbed the mayor in the neck with a 30 cm long knife while shouting criticism of his asylum policy.
Premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia Armin Laschet said the security authorities believe that there was a political motive to this attack.
The attacker was arrested and state prosecutors in Hagen are investigating attempted murder, media reported. No one was immediately available at the prosecutors.
Andreas Hollstein has written a book about his fight against the far-right.
Under his leadership, the town of Altena has taken in more refugees than it was allocated.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and many other politicians have expressed their shock at the attack.
“I am horrified by the knife attack on the mayor Andreas Hollstein - and very relieved that he can already be back with his family,” Merkel said via her spokesman on Twitter.