- Politicians advocate for a more substantial discussion in Solingen.
Following the lethal knife attack in Solingen, several politicians in Brandenburg have cautioned against an emotionally charged discourse. "Competing for public attention isn't beneficial," remarked Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) on Deutschlandfunk. It's crucial to employ the current expulsion measures consistently. "The law must be implemented here," said Woidke. "We need to draw conclusions from the recent events." These conclusions ought to be drawn promptly, Woidke insisted.
On a Friday, three individuals lost their lives and eight more were injured, four seriously, at a city festival in the North Rhine-Westphalian city of Solingen. The suspected assailant, a 26-year-old Syrian, is now in custody. The Federal Prosecutor's Office is investigating him for murder and suspected affiliation with the terrorist group Islamic State (IS).
The attack has reinitiated the debate on immigration policy and expulsions, as the alleged perpetrator was due to be expelled to Bulgaria but this did not materialize.
Chairman of the Left Party faction: Prevent extremism
"No immigration policy debate should arise from this IS terror attack," said Sebastian Walter, chairman of the Left Party faction in the Brandenburg state parliament. It's a discussion about extremism and an attack on democracy. "We must ensure that integration occurs," said Walter.
Discussions about expulsions, knife lengths, and weapon-free zones are "present trendy politics," he added. No criminal can be deterred from a crime by weapon-free zones. It's about other concerns, such as how to prevent extremism in people. Walter underscored that violence and crime are closely associated with social factors.
Green Party's lead candidate: Solutions consistent with the Basic Law
Antje Tóth, the Green Party's lead candidate for the state election on September 22, stated that it was now necessary not to outdo each other in "populism." Instead, one must search for "effective and reasonable" solutions consistent with the Basic Law.
Her faction colleague Benjamin Raschke reiterated the Greens' demand for a tightening of knife laws. "We consider it absolutely incorrect that one can purchase a machete in a hardware store," Raschke said. One can easily walk around Brandenburg with a weapon, he added.
Refugee Council: Faith in the legal system
After the attack, the Refugee Council in Brandenburg advised against a debate at the expense of refugees. "We're receiving numerous calls from refugees who are distressed when they watch the news," a spokesperson for the council told rbb.
Unfortunately, such individual offenders exist everywhere in the world. One should have faith in the legal system, the spokesperson said. The judiciary is there to punish such offenses. Politics should now not create further disorder, but consider what is "practical" for the majority, the spokesperson emphasized.
The minister, when discussing the expulsion measures, stated, "Is the law being implemented here?" Later, the Green Party's lead candidate Antje Tóth suggested, "We should focus on finding solutions consistent with the Basic Law, rather than engaging in populism."
