Radical beliefs or actions - In Mannheim, thousands gathered to honor a fallen officer.
A moment of silence. Then the clock tower in Mannheim's city square rings once. People start clapping, first hesitantly, then louder. The mother of the murdered policeman, Rouven Laur, breaks down in tears. She's standing with her husband and other relatives next to the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the regional leader Winfried Kretschmann, and the interior minister Thomas Ströbl.
Together with over 1500 people, they honor the slain officer at 11:34 a.m., at the spot where he was stabbed by a 25-year-old Afghan man a week ago. Across the country, police officers commemorate the fallen official at this time.
Later, President Steinmeier describes the stabbing attack as a "bloody terrorist act" after conversing with police officers and Rouven Laur's family. The perpetrator appears to have acted from a political, possibly Islamist background.
Recently, we've experienced "despicable acts of politically motivated violence," Steinmeier says. "We, the democrats of this nation, can and will never get used to violence in political disputes."
Many people lay flowers at the crime scene. Reneé Reichert, 33, has come with his son to light a candle, as he himself explains. They wish to remember Rouven Laur. "That's just terrible," says Reichert about the crime. Later, representatives of the state branch of the AfD laid flowers and wreaths at Mannheim's city square.
In Mannheim, several citizens mourn the slain policeman. Anti-hate posters are displayed. At the gathering titled "Mannheim stands together - for democracy and diversity," the German Trade Union confederation and partners from democratic parties, religious communities, and civil society have organized this event. At the same location, a demonstration by the "Mannheim against the Right" alliance also took place.
The AfD had planned to protest Islamism at City Square in Mannheim - following a court decision, they moved to Paradeplatz. According to the police, approximately 700 people attended the AfD rally that night, while 3300 counter-demonstrators were present. The police kept participants from both events separate. Mannheim's city hall had objected to the Market Square as the location for the AfD protest.
Five victims of the attack are still recovering from their injuries. All of them continue to experience pain, according to Stefanie Kizina of Pax Europa. "We're all still in shock," she relates. "You have to pull yourself together, you have to process it first. [..] You always thought it wouldn't happen, it wouldn't be so bad." Membership chair Michael Stürzenberger had to be hospitalized again due to his blood loss. The 59-year-old will be away from work for at least four to eight weeks.
The movement will now put more focus on the safety of its members, says Kizina. "There will no longer be any events without protective barriers. The police officers are now paying even more attention to us."
The police union's chairman, Ralf Kusterer, is moved by the huge solidarity for Rouven Laur's death. However, anger is mixed in with the mourning. "Of course, people are also upset," he says about the mood among police officers. "The frustration towards politics is massive." After such incidents, there are extensive political discussions and demands, but nothing changes. Therefore, it's important to discuss emergency training for police officers, protection equipment, and treatment plans for wounds post-attacks in detail.
The police officers involved in the incident are being psychologically addressed. A spokesperson for the Mannheim Police Department explains that they won't provide updates on the well-being of those who worked with Laur and were present during the incident. The president of the Mannheim Police Headquarters, Ulrike Schäfer, mentions on Tuesday, "Those who had worked with Laur and were present at the unfortunate incident are currently being psychologically cared for." Interior Minister Strobl tells the "Mannheimer Morgen" in a video statement that "the sense of security for the people has been impacted." He empathizes with the fears of citizens following the fatal knife attack. "The police are very sad, but their duties continue."
The attacker was shot by a police officer during the assault. He's currently undergoing surgery. The 25-year-old arrived in Germany in 2013 as a teenager and applied for asylum. The application was denied in 2014, but a deportation ban was put in place, presumably due to his young age. The attacker had spent the past few days in Heppenheim with his wife and two toddlers. The Public Prosecutor's Office is overseeing this case's investigation.
The Mannheim Police have arranged for a public funeral for the fallen police officer on June 14. The ceremony will be held at the Congress Center Rosengarten, as announced by the police headquarters. Sadly, due to limited space, only family members, invited guests, and employees from the Mannheim Police Headquarters will be able to attend.
In the aftermath of the devastating knife attack, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is considering reinstating the deportation of serious criminals to Afghanistan and Syria. Although he hinted at this during his government declaration, specifics of how he intends to carry out this plan are yet to be revealed.
