- German Foreign Minister Paul makes a statement concerning the assault
Today, North Rhine-Westphalia's Refugee and Integration Minister, Josefine Paul (Green Party), will update the press concerning the recent events in Solingen. She's set to address the media this afternoon, around 4:30 PM, as per the ministry's announcement.
After the tragic stabbing incident in Solingen, Paul penned a statement advocating for a revision of the EU asylum responsibility regulations. She outlined that deportations under the Dublin regulations, which involve various levels and authorities, are a legally intricate procedure that frequently encounters procedural challenges. "This process necessitates a fundamental overhaul to prevent such transfers from collapsing due to administrative issues," she stated.
Paul also revealed that an investigation is underway to determine if there were any misapplications of these regulations in the suspected attacker's case from Solingen. Any identified discrepancies must be addressed and rectified, and appropriate measures must be taken.
Tragically, three individuals lost their lives, and eight others were injured, four seriously, during a city festival in Solingen on Friday evening. The main suspect is a 26-year-old Syrian man who entered Germany via Bulgaria towards the end of 2022. Based on EU asylum rules, he should have been returned to Bulgaria. However, this didn't transpire as the man could not be located on the designated day in June 2023. German authorities are currently probing him on suspicion of murder and association with the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS).
Following her statement advocating for changes in EU asylum regulations, Minister Paul emphasized the need to focus on improving the complex deportation process under the Dublin regulations, particularly to prevent administrative issues that might cause transfers to fail. After identifying potential misapplications of these regulations in the Solingen case, Paul urged prompt rectification and appropriate measures.
