A coven of witches is accused of attacking a German politician.
Alexander Kebeck, a candidate for Lossburg mayor, says he was left with broken ribs being assaulted in the Black Forest region.
The 43-year-old was attending a local carnival when he says he encountered a witches' coven who “jumped from behind and hit me in the back, brutally knocking me to the ground”.
Kebeck told German tabloid Bild that the group of six were wearing costumes belonging to the Heimbach-Hexa, an association of witches. The group denies any involvement.
Members wear hoods, leather aprons, dark stockings and horned devil masks. Mr Kebeck says his attackers wore all these items apart from the masks.
German news outlet Merkur has reported that the Heimbach-Hexa has vowed to support authorities in their investigation into the attack.
“Our association strongly rejects violence, hatred and incitement,” a spokesperson said. “We stand behind the motto for every carnival fool: For everyone's joy, for no one's suffering.”
A German police spokesperson also confirmed that the force was “investigating suspicion of bodily harm committed by unknown suspects”.
Germany's carnival season begins in November and tends to last until the spring, typically involving floats, parades and outlandish costumes.
Heimbach-Hexa is a carnival group based on the legend of the Heimbach Witch, which dates back to 1488. The legend says that raftsmen vanished after being set upon by occult-worshipping sisters on the riverbank.
“They have never been seen again to this day, and it is said that the witch sisters made them pay for their misdeeds in the forests around the Heimbach,” states Heimbach-Hexa's version of the legend on its website.