In Germany, a police chief known for his hard-line stance against neo-Nazis and extremists has been stabbed and seriously wounded at his home. Passau city police chief Alois Mannichl was knifed in the chest by an unknown assailant on Saturday. Investigators suspect a neo-Nazi was behind the assault as the attacker wished him greetings from "the national resistance" - a slogan used by far-right extremists in Germany. Mannichl, 52, successfully underwent emergency surgery to repair the stab wound less than an inch from his heart and is now recovering at a hospital. Police said on Monday they had arrested two suspects who matched Mannichl's description of the attacker.
State prosecutor Helmut Walch told reporters the knife used in the attack was found in a nearby garden and that officials had seized it as evidence. He said the authorities were treating the attack as attempted murder. Authorities said 83 crimes in Passau have been attributed to far-right extremists this year, more than double the number recorded in 2007. Under Mannichl's leadership, Passau police have stepped up their action against illegal right-wing rallies and activities in the region.