One year after the knife attack: "Illerkirchberg is strong"
When the bells in Illerkirchberg (Alb-Donau district) ring at 7.25 a.m. next Tuesday, a town will commemorate the fatal attack on two schoolgirls: It will then be exactly one year since a 14-year-old girl lost her life at the hands of a man on her way to school and her 13-year-old friend was seriously injured. "Together, we have embarked on the difficult path of learning to deal with this," says Mayor Markus Häußler (non-party) ahead of the anniversary of the crime. But many wounds remain. A memorial service for residents, friends and acquaintances of the victims is planned for Tuesday evening in a church.
Two friends were on their way to school on December 5 last year when a man attacked them with a knife. At the beginning of July, the Ulm Regional Court sentenced a 27-year-old man to life imprisonment for murder and attempted murder with grievous bodily harm. The court also found that he was particularly guilty. This means that, as a rule, early release from prison after 15 years is almost impossible. The verdict is not yet final; the defendant has appealed against it.
In the summer, the court assumed that the man, who had come to Germany as an asylum seeker from Eritrea, had wanted to kill an employee of the district office that day. He had blamed the authorities for ruining his life because he had been unable to travel to Africa to find a wife without a passport. On the day of the attack, the man had just been about to leave for the district administration office with a knife when the girls walked past his house. He was afraid that they would betray him - and that he would not be able to take his revenge.
"A terrible, completely senseless and brutal crime was committed in our small community," says Mayor Häußler. The asylum accommodation in front of which the attack took place has since been demolished. There is now a meadow there, sunflowers grew on it and a construction fence designed by children stands on the site. The father of those killed had called for a playground or playing field to be built on the site. Häußler explains that a focus group is now working on the future of the site. There are ideas ranging from meeting spaces to a multifunctional use with apartments and restaurants to a medical center. The area is not to be paved over. "There should be space for both commemoration and encounters in the open space."
Even more has changed in Illerkirchberg since the crime, says Häußler. "The youth club in the Oberkirchberg district has been re-established so that young people can experience community there again." They offered exchange and information formats, a self-protection seminar and a lecture on the topic of coping with trauma.
There is a great desire for peace and quiet in Illerkirchberg. The media onslaught, rumors and false allegations have left their mark, says Häußler. But: "The citizens have resisted all attempts to politically appropriate the crime." The parents of the two girls also wrote letters at the time calling for the crime not to be exploited for hate speech. "Illerkirchberg is strong," says Häußler.
- Following the crime, several municipalities in the Alb-Donau district have initiated discussions about strengthening support systems for refugees and children, recognizing the need for improved processes to integrate newcomers into local communities.
- In light of the tragedy, some municipalities have implemented stricter security measures around schools and public spaces, especially during peak migration periods, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of all residents, including children.
- As a result of the crime, there have been increased efforts by several municipalities to provide additional resources for children who have experienced trauma, including support groups, counseling services, and mentorship programs, recognizing their unique needs during this difficult time.
Source: www.dpa.com
