Cologne stabbing suspect 'acted out of anti-foreigner motives'

A man who stabbed a Cologne mayoral candidate can be held criminally responsible for his actions and has told officials he has a background in the far-right scene, authorities said.

The 44-year-old German on Saturday stabbed Henriette Reker, a leading candidate in Sunday’s election for new mayor of Cologne. Ms Reker is currently responsible for housing refugees in the city, and officials have said the man told them he acted out of anti-foreigner motives.