In a shocking development, a 17-year-old boy has handed himself in to the police, confessing to carrying out an attack on Matthias Ecke, a candidate for the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), in the city of Dresden. The incident occurred while Ecke was putting up campaign posters for the upcoming European elections.

According to Saxony Police, the minor voluntarily presented himself at a police station in the early hours of Sunday morning, taking responsibility for the assault on the SPD politician. However, three other individuals believed to be involved in the attack are still at large, and their current whereabouts are unknown.

It has been reported that a second campaigner, representing the Greens Party, was also targeted by the group of four assailants. The SPD Saxony branch has pointed fingers at the right-wing party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), accusing them of inciting violence. The AfD has seen a surge in popularity, particularly in Eastern states such as Saxony.

The SPD Saxony expressed their outrage over the incident, stating, "Yesterday our top candidate for the European elections, Matthias Ecke, was attacked while installing posters and seriously injured. Violence and intimidation of democrats are the means of fascists. The seeds sown by the AfD and other right-wing extremists are sprouting." Other politicians and leaders have also condemned the attack.

Jörg Urban, the leader of the AfD in Saxony, acknowledged the attack in a post on social media, condemning acts of violence against politicians and emphasizing that such acts are an assault on democracy. However, he also questioned the role of the SPD's constant agitation against political dissidents, suggesting it may contribute to such escalations.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his concern about the attack on social media, denouncing it as a threat to democracy. He wished Matthias Ecke a speedy recovery from the injury sustained during the assault. According to CNN's affiliate ntv, Ecke, 41 years old, had to undergo emergency facial surgery as a result of the attack.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities actively seeking the three remaining suspects involved in the assault. This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the need to protect democratic values and foster an environment of respect and tolerance in political discourse.