Teenager turns self in after attack on German politician

An election poster in Dresden showing Germany's SDP lead candidates Matthias Ecke (L) and Katarina Barley for the upcoming European Parliament elections. Police said attackers beat Ecke up on Friday night. [AFP]

A 17-year-old turned himself in to German police Sunday after an attack on a lawmaker that the country's leaders decried as a threat to democracy, as thousands turned out to march against political violence.

The teenager reported to police in the eastern city of Dresden early Sunday morning and said he was "the perpetrator who had knocked down the SPD politician", police said in a statement.