German Far-Right Politician Rescued From Car Crash... By Refugees

09/01/2016_NPD
A banner with the logo of the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD) in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016. An NPD politician has been rescued by Syrian refugees. Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay

Stefan Jagsch, a lead candidate in local elections for Germany's far-right NPD party, had a lucky escape earlier this month when he was pulled from the wreckage of a car crash and given first aid.

The identity of his saviors? A busload of Syrian refugees, just the kind of people who his party has been stirring up hatred against.

Jagsch, 29, was helped out by two Syrians whose passing minibus stopped at the crash site near the town of Büdingen on March 16, The Guardian reports. The NPD's local leader, Jean Christoph Fiedler, told regional media that the asylum seekers had "likely performed a very good, humane deed."

The praise for the refugees comes despite the NPD's history of stoking anti-immigrant tensions. Bild reported that messages on Jagsch's Facebook page are marked with headlines including "the boat is full" and "asylum flood."

The NPD is currently contesting an attempt to ban it in Germany's constitutional court.

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Josh is a staff writer covering Europe, including politics, policy, immigration and more.

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