German neo-Nazis have threatened to “behead” the new mayor of Tröglitz, the Independent reports Monday – mere weeks after the previous mayor quit due to threats to his family.

The conflict stems over the municipal decision to host foreign refugees in a public building in the city center, despite seven neo-Nazi demonstrations against the move over the past year. The hostel was due to have 40 beds.

Christian Democrat politician Götz Ulrich had replaced the previous mayor, Markus Nierth, after the latter quit over similar threats.

“The threats are of an unpleasant nature,” he told Germany’s N-TV news Sunday. “They are going so far as to threaten methods used during the French revolution.”

Tröglitz has become a center for neo-Nazi activity, and has become well-known for the far-right movement despite its mere population of 2,700.

On Saturday, the public building for the refugee hostel had been burnt down. Authorities say that neo-Nazi opposers broke into the building and began the fire at approximately 2:00 am local time.

“Everything in this case points to deliberate arson,” Germany’s Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière stated to the Independent.

Nierth, while largely out of the public spotlight, insisted Monday that the neo-Nazis be stopped.

“I am stunned, sad and furious at the same time,” he said. “Tröglitz will never recover from this.”