Stabbing incident in Mannheim. - Police officer's tragic death remembered.
Following the death of a police officer due to a stabbing incident in Mannheim, there's widespread sympathy. Baden-Wuerttemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) has ordered a minute of silence and a floral tribute. The police in Mannheim plan to bid farewell to their colleague at a funeral. Meanwhile, investigators are working to determine the motive of the attacker, who, according to security sources, had never been identified as a criminal or an extremist before.
A minute of silence for the 29-year-old officer will be observed on Friday at 11:34 a.m., with details on the funeral undecided, as the family needs more time to grieve. Meanwhile, a demonstration is planned for the evening in Mannheim, which Strobl intends to attend as well.
The chronology of events:On Friday, a 25-year-old man with Afghanistan citizenship in the city center, at the market square, confronted the Islam-critical movement Pax Europa (BPE) during their event. He pulled out a knife and assaulted six men, including the police officer. The officer passed away on Sunday due to his injuries. The attacker had repeatedly stabbed the officer in the head, and was eventually stopped by another officer's shot. Among the injured men were an Iraqi and a German-Kazakh dual citizen.
The perpetrator's motive remains uncertain. A video recording shows that the attacker was seen at the Pax Europa information stand before the first assault. A link between the attack and the Islam-critical event, featuring BPE board member Michael Stuerzenberger who was also injured in the attack, is possible. Slogans such as "Political Islam threatens democracy, freedom, security, and human rights!" were prominently displayed at the event of the right-populist movement.
The perpetrator is unable to provide insight into his motive since he's currently not fit for questioning, said the prosecutor's office on Monday. The investigators hope for further details from the evaluation of the items found during the search of his apartment in Heppenheim.
The attacker arrived in Germany in 2013 as a teenager and applied for asylum. His request was denied in 2014, but a deportation ban was imposed possibly due to his young age. He resided in Heppenheim with his wife and two young children. The current whereabouts and questioning status of his wife are unknown.
Concerns and precautions:The spokesman for the Federal Interior Ministry in Berlin said that security is given utmost priority during the European Football Championship. Both the federal government and the states are taking stringent measures to ensure the same. "Of course, measures are adjusted based on the situation," he added.
Flags on police boats of the Water Police in Baden-Wuerttemberg will be kept at half-mast from the day of the funeral until the victim is buried. Mourning flowers will be placed on all police cars in the region, and flags on police buildings and the Interior Ministry will also be lowered to half-mast simultaneously. Flag hoisting on service vehicles of the Federal Police will be done with mourning flowers as a gesture of support.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) thanked the employees of the Federal Police for their gesture of mourning. "This act serves as a painful reminders of how perilous the duty of police officers in our country and society can be. They deserve the utmost respect and recognition for their selfless service," Faeser said through a statement.
Political Reactions:Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) called for tough action against extremists. He mentioned that the police officer had sacrificed his life for peace and security. He was on duty to protect the democracy as well as the right for individuals to express their opinion, regardless of how appealing it was to others. "If now extremists are interfering with the freedom of movement and expression, they should know they are up against their toughest opponents," Scholz stated.
Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) suggested alterations in migration policy. "The tragic murder in Mannheim evokes mourning and rage. The rapidly escalating criminality displayed by non-Germans, represented by acts of violence, robberies, and rapes, is a highly concerning issue that needs to be addressed," she remarked.
Martin Schirdewan, leader of the Left Party, criticized the attack in Mannheim while also highlighting the importance of not casting suspicion on an entire population group. Witnesses included Laith Arafeh, the representative of the Palestinian Autonomous Authority in Germany, and the board of the new party Democratic Alliance for Diversity and Progress (Dava), in which former Islamic organization functionaries are involved.
The "Rheinische Post" reports that the Bundestag will address the issue of violence towards police officers in an upcoming meeting at its request, as per union faction's demand. The Police Union's leader Jochen Kopelke shared his thoughts to the newspaper: "The German Parliament must delve into the topic of police violence and knife attacks." Kopelke anticipates further action consisting of enforcing deportations for criminals and supporting police officers.
How long would the perpetrator spend in prison?
In case of Mannheim's perpetrator, a German prison sentence would apply, and he would serve it in the country. Whether or not a foreign criminal gets deported after completing his sentence depends on a range of factors, such as the situation in his home country when his imprisonment ends.
