But he has never experienced anything like what happened to him on St Nicholas’ Day in Kassel this year, says 54-year-old Rainer B. The man, who comes from Ulm, was hired as St Nicholas in Kassel for the first time. Last week Wednesday, he was due to perform in the Königsalm on Königsplatz.

But Rainer B. could only make his appearance in a tattered costume. His coat and cape were tattered. Rainer B., who normally works as an excavator driver, says that he travelled by tram from Nordstadt to Stern. He got off there at around 5.15 pm to walk to Königsplatz. He was already wearing his costume.

Near the pharmacy on Untere Königsstraße, five to six youths approached him from the other side of the street. They were around 15 years old and had a migrant background, according to Rainer B. They insulted him as a “son of a bitch” and a “fat bastard” and asked him to take off his Father Christmas costume. The young people had said that they were Muslims and that this was their country. They also pulled on his costume. The costume was torn in the process.

According to the 54-year-old, one of the attackers grabbed him by the neck, leaving him with slight swelling. To defend himself, he hit the youth in the face with a rod he had made from a hazelnut bush. The youth then fled in the direction of Martinsplatz. Several people on Untere Königsstraße witnessed the attack on him, reports Rainer B. But many just laughed, some even applauded. Nobody came to his aid.

The 54-year-old has filed a complaint against the youths. Police spokeswoman Ulrike Schaake said on enquiry that the state security service has taken over the investigation on suspicion of assault, insult and damage to property. State security always investigates when a political motive for an offence cannot be ruled out.