The head of the Ministry of the Interior: - It's likely that the perpetrator in Mannheim was driven by Islamist motivations.
Authorities believe the lethal knife attack in Mannheim occurred due to Islamist extremism. This theory is strengthening as evidence emerges, according to Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU). There's no indication that the suspect belonged to a larger group, it could've been an act of a lone wolf radicalized by Islamist ideology. The Federal Prosecutor's Office has now assumed control of the investigation.
On Friday, a demonstration by the anti-Islamic movement Pax Europa was targeted with a knife by a 25-year-old Afghan, who injured five participants and a police officer. The 29-year-old officer, Rouven Laur, later died from his injuries. Another officer shot the attacker, who remains unresponsive, reports state.
Strobl commented that lone wolf terrorists are particularly dangerous because they operate alone and are challenging to monitor. The suspect had no previous known police records.
The Afghan had entered Germany in 2013 as a teenager and requested asylum. His application was denied in 2014, with a deportation ban likely due to his youth. He was residing in Heppenheim, Hesse, with his wife and two children.
Germany's Victim Support Ombudsman Pascal Kober has expressed support for the victims, with potential psychological, practical, and financial aid available.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe took over the investigation on Monday evening, citing the "importance" of the case. The spokeswoman added that religious motivation was presumed. The perpetrator sought to deny Islam-critical individuals their right to free speech.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser urged against general suspicion of Muslims, but emphasized cracking down on extremists. She commended the Federal Prosecutor's office involvement due to "clear indications of an Islamic motive." Security forces are closely monitoring the Islamist scene.
Faeser noted that the suspected attacker, previously unknown to police, was not deportable due to his German residency permit. The media later revealed his wife is German.
Union states supported proposals for stricter deportations of criminals. The Hamburg Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) advocated for deportations to Afghanistan and Syria. FDP group leader Christian Dürr suggested deportations to countries where this was previously impossible, like Afghanistan.
The Union group's top politicians supported the initiatives. CDU's Parliamentary Manager Thorsten Frei (CDU) and CSU state group leader Alexander Dobrindt criticized the coalition government's inaction on this issue. Dobrindt insisted the Mannheim attacker must serve his sentence in Germany.
Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Strobl joined calls for stricter deportations of foreign criminals. He suggested secure areas in Afghanistan where deportations could take place.
The AfD parliamentary group demanded a moment of silence in the Bundestag for the slain officer.
Mannheim Police Vice President Ulrike Schäfer lamented the loss of Rouven Laur. She criticized the hatred and incitement in social media following the incident. Support is being provided for those who worked with Laur and witnessed the attack.
On Tuesday, Mannheim's market square was declared a temporary memorial site for the murdered police officer and other victims. A general order forbids events, such as rallies and protests, at the scene of the attack until June 16. Mayor Christian Specht (CDU) signed this order.
The AfD plans to hold a demonstration on the market square on Friday, while a counter-demonstration by Antifa is also scheduled.
Mannheim Police Vice President Ulrike Schäfer deeply mourns the loss of Rouven Laur. Simultaneously, she condemned the hatred and incitement on social media after the tragic event. Those working with Laur and present at the attack are receiving psychological care.
Read also:
- The knife attack in Mannheim has Robert Kober, Germany's Victim Support Ombudsman, expressing his concern and support for the victims.
- The Office of the Attorney General in Baden-Württemberg is closely monitoring the situation, as the investigation into the attack continues.
- Pascal Kober emphasized the availability of psychological, practical, and financial aid for those affected by the attack.
- Meanwhile, in Hesse, the suspect's wife and children reside in Heppenheim, where the family has lived since the Afghan's asylum application was denied in 2014.
- The incident has sparked discourse among Union politicians, such as Andy Grote (SPD) and Christian Dürr (FDP), who have proposed stricter deportation policies.
- In response to the attack, Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) has called for stricter deportations of foreign criminals, suggesting secure areas in Afghanistan for this purpose.
- The German Press Agency reported on the CDU's Parliamentary Manager Thorsten Frei and CSU state group leader Alexander Dobrindt's criticism of the coalition government's inaction on deportations.
- Despite the incident, protests and demonstrations continue in Mannheim, with the AfD planning a demonstration on the market square on Friday and a counter-demonstration by Antifa scheduled for the same day.
- The German federal government, under the leadership of Nancy Faeser (SPD), has expressed its commitment to combating extremism and ensuring the right to free speech.
- The Mannheim Police Vice President, Ulrike Schäfer, mourns the loss of Officer Rouven Laur and condemns the incitement and hatred on social media in the aftermath of the attack.
- The market square in Mannheim has been declared a temporary memorial site for the slain officer and other victims, with a general order banning events at the scene of the attack until June 16.
