Mayor of Oersdorf Joachim Kebschull, 61, was taken to hospital after being struck from behind with a lump of timber

A German mayor was clubbed unconscious 'by neo-Nazis', moments before a planning meeting to consider a new refugee centre in the village.

Joachim Kebschull, 61, was taken to hospital after being struck from behind with a lump of timber in an attack in Oersdorf in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein.

It happened as a riot broke out at a Berlin refugee centre last night when 50 asylum seekers attacked security personnel who had to be rescued by police.

One guard was rushed to hospital with head injuries after the refugees turned on the staff, smashed up furniture and looted the building.

The mayor of Oersdorf had received death threats over plans for a centre in Schleswig-Holstein in the past, which infuriated right-wingers.

Before the meeting on Thursday the mayor had received a threatening letter with the words: 'Who doesn't want to hear must feel' and 'Oersdorf for the Oersdorferners'.

Two bomb threats had postponed earlier planning meeting attempts.

Police say the attackers are believed to be from the local far-right scene and are now searching for them after they made their escape.

In Berlin, around 50 migrants smashed up furniture to use as weapons to attack the guards at their accommodation block in the northern district of Reinickendorf.

Locked in a room, the security personnel called police saying they feared for their lives. Thirty officers turned up to rescue them.

Trouble broke out when the lights in the former gymnasium were suddenly turned on by security personnel after they discovered one of their offices had been broken into and looted.

It is believed that neo-Nazis were responsible for the attack, moments before a planning meeting about a proposed new refugee centre. Pictured is a rally in Germany in January, with people holding banners that say 'refugees not welcome'

Outside, some of the guards' cars were vandalised. Angry refugees turned on the staff and began beating them as they fled to find a safe place.

When police arrived they described most attackers as intoxicated. One guard was rushed to hospital with head injuries.

Police said they will press charges of disturbing the peace, grievous bodily harm and property damage.

Alcohol is banned in refugee centres as many young men struggle to cope with its effects after arriving in Germany from Muslim countries where it is banned.