Radical ideology - Individuals honor the fallen officer in Mannheim.
A moment of silence. Then the bell in the tower of the Old Town Hall at Mannheim's Market Square rings once. People begin to clap, starting off timidly, then growing louder. The mother of the slain police officer Rouven Laur breaks down in tears. Standing beside her are her husband and other relatives, along with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Baden-Württemberg's Minister President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), and Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU). They had come together to remember the fallen official, who was fatally stabbed by a 25-year-old Afghani a week prior. At 11:34 a.m. on Friday, they paid tribute to Rouven Laur on the scene of his passing. Across the nation, policemen honor the 29-year-old victim at this time.
Later, Steinmeier describes the stabbing attack as a "bloody terrorist act" following a discussion with police officers and the relatives of Rouven Laur. The perpetrator appears to have acted with a political motive, possibly Islamist.
In recent weeks, we've witnessed other "disgusting acts of politically motivated violence," says Steinmeier. "As the democrats of this country, we can never grow accustomed to violence in political disputes." The violence must come to an end, demands the Federal President.
Many people lay flowers at the site on Friday. Renée Reichert, 33, has arrived with her son to light a candle, as she explains. They want to remember Rouven Laur. "It's just terrible," says the 33-year-old about the crime. The atmosphere in the 300,000-resident city in northern Baden-Württemberg is characterized by tension.
A week after the incident, the city also grapples with planned afternoon and evening demonstrations, as per Mayor Christian Specht (CDU). Amongst these are the AfD's planned demonstration against Islamism at 6:00 p.m. on the Market Square and a counter-demonstration by Antifa. Specht mentions that they have encountered both groups on Sunday. "It was extremely difficult to separate them and keep the situation calm."
It remained uncertain if the AfD could demonstrate on the Market Square. On Thursday, the Administrative Court of Karlsruhe ruled in favor of the AfD against the city's general ban on events such as demonstrations on the Market Square. The city had declared the Market Square a memorial site for Rouven Laur and prohibited gatherings. The city lodged an appeal against the court's decision. The city is now looking to hold the demonstration on nearby Paradeplatz.
"We want to demonstrate two days before the European election right where the Islamist terror has struck, to send a clear political signal across the country," announced the AfD state chairman Markus Frohnmaier.
Five victims of the attack are still struggling with the aftereffects.
Stefanie Kizina of Pax Europa informs us that the five victims of the attack a week ago are still dealing with the consequences. "We're all in shock," she says. "One pulls oneself together, one has to cope with it first. (...) One has always lived with the danger, but somehow, one has always assumed that nothing will happen, it won't be so bad." Vice President Michael Stuerzenberger needed to return to the hospital due to his high blood loss. The 59-year-old is expected to be out for at least four to eight weeks.
In response, the movement will pay more attention to ensuring the safety of its members. "There will be no more events without protective grilles," says Kizina. "The police officers are now paying even more attention to us."
The chairman of the German Police Union, Ralf Kusterer, is touched by the solidarity shown in Rouven Laur's death. However, a week after the incident, anger intermingles with the mourning. "People are naturally also disappointed," he says about the mood among the police officers. "The frustration with politics is immense." When such attacks occur, there are extensive political discussions and demands, but nothing changes. Consequently, discussions must be held regarding further training for police officers, equipment for protection, and treating wounds after assaults.
The police officers engaged in the incident a week after the knife attack are reportedly not doing well. A Mannheim Police spokesperson remained silent on their condition on Thursday. The president of the Mannheim Police Headquarters, Ulrike Schaefer, had earlier stated: "Those who had worked with Laur and were present at the unfortunate incident are being psychologically cared for."
Criminal and police psychologist Ursula Gasch spoke to "Mannheimer Morgen" (Friday edition). "Incidents like this knife attack that resulted in a fatal outcome can lead to a collective reaction of shock and grief. Often referred to as a specific 'police culture', which carries a negative connotation but actually denotes something positive." The close-knit bond between police officers reflects their life-saving attitude vis-à-vis the challenging and sometimes only manageable situations that their profession presents. "The attack on a police officer is considered an attack on every police officer, no matter the location."
A person involved in an assault was wounded by a police officer at the scene. Due to his injuries, he underwent surgery. The individual is 25 years old and has resided in Germany since 2013. His asylum application was declined in 2014, yet a deportation ban was implemented, probably because of his age. The perpetrator lived in Heppenheim with his wife and two young children. The Federal Prosecutor General is now leading the investigation.
This event has acted as a catalyst for a heated discussion on stricter deportations. In response to the deadly knife attack, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is advocating for the possibility of deporting serious criminals back to Afghanistan and Syria. "Criminals like this should face deportation - even if they are from Syria and Afghanistan," Scholz declared in the Bundestag on a recent day. "Serious offenders and terrorist risks have not lost any ground here." The chancellor, however, has not yet disclosed precisely how he intends to carry out this policy. The Federal Ministry of the Interior is presently developing the practical approach and is in discussions with the neighboring nations of Afghanistan.
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After the moment of silence, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemns the stabbing attack as a "bloody terrorist act" with potential Islamist motivations. Many people lay flowers at the crime scene in memory of the fallen officer Rouven Laur, including Reneé Reichert and her son. Despite the tension in the city, planned demonstrations are scheduled for the weekend, led by the AfD and Antifa. The Administrative Court in Karlsruhe rules in favor of the AfD's right to demonstrate on the Market Square, citing freedom of assembly. The atmosphere among the police officers is one of solidarity but also anger and disappointment, as they grapple with extensive political discussions and demands but see little change in response to such attacks. Psychological care is provided for the officers involved in the incident, and criminal psychologist Ursula Gasch suggests incidents like these can lead to a collective reaction of shock and grief within the police force, viewing such attacks as an attack on every officer.
The perpetrator of the assault, a 25-year-old Afghan migrant, is currently under the care of the Federal Prosecutor General, having been wounded by a police officer during the incident. Steinmeier calls for an end to violence in political disputes, declaring it "disgusting" they occur. In response to the attack, politicians and the public have started a heated debate regarding stricter deportations of serious criminals, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz advocating for the possibility of expelling such offenders to Afghanistan and Syria. Planned demonstrations occur on both days, with the AfD expressing their stance against Islamism and Antifa organizing a counter-protest. The mother of the victim, Rouven Laur, breaks down in tears during the memorial ceremony, with the city's mayor and other dignitaries present in Mannheim's Market Square.
