{UAH} Call for calm as two Afghans held over death of 22-year-old German man

Call for calm as two Afghans held over death of 22-year-old German man

German politician Holger Stahlknecht tells people to "keep a cool head" and avoid a repeat of the clashes seen in Chemnitz.

18:18, UK,Sunday 09 September 2018

Image:An altercation reportedly broke out in a park

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By Ajay Nair, news reporter

Politicians have called for calm after a German man was killed following an alleged altercation with migrants for the second time in a fortnight.

Two Afghan nationals have been held over the "homicide" of a 22-year-old in the eastern city of Koethen after an incident on Saturday night.

According to German media, the incident started on a playground, where three Afghan men were arguing with a pregnant woman over who was the father of her unborn child.

Two Germans are said to have intervened and the argument escalated. It is not known what followed but one of the German men died of a cerebral haemorrhage, according to Die Welt.

The third Afghan is not believed to have been involved in the brawl.

Image:Holger Stahlknecht has told people to 'keep a cool head'

In a statement, prosecutors said: "Interviews and investigations are continuing and are being conducted in all directions.

"The reasons for, and concrete circumstances of, the incident are not yet known."

The death follows violent right-wing protests sparked by the killing of another German man in the nearby eastern city of Chemnitz on 26 August.

Two asylum seekers - a Syrian and an Iraqi - were arrested in connection with the death. They are facing manslaughter charges after an argument broke out with the German man, who was stabbed to death.

Thousands of protesters - including neo-Nazi groups and members of the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party - demonstrated in response. The rallies saw counter-demonstrators clash with protesters too.

Image:Right-wing protests were sparked by the first killing on 26 August

Following the stabbing, authorities said several foreigners were attacked in the streets. A Jewish restaurant was also targeted with rocks and bottles amid the unrest.

Holger Stahlknecht, the interior minister of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, called for calm after the death on Saturday.

He told the DPA news agency he deeply regretted the "tragic death" and said he understood concerns aired by the public.

However, he told people to "keep a cool head" and avoid a repeat of the clashes seen in Chemnitz.

More from Germany

• Chemnitz protests: There's a lot to be disturbed about

• Bono vows to be 'back to full voice' for tour after Berlin show ends early

• Germans told to 'get off sofa' amid far-right protests

• U2 forced to cancel Berlin gig after four songs

• Thousands join rival protests in Chemnitz, Germany, after man stabbed to death

• Holocaust survivors view German far-right protests with 'growing concern'

Susi Moebbeck, the state's integration officer, tweeted: "Violence should be condemned anywhere, any place. Time for mourning. Time for prudence. Look after each other."

The deaths have proved significant with the country remaining deeply divided over Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to allow more than a million migrants, including refugees from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, into the country in 2015.

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