Mannheim knife assault - Solemn remembrance of Rouven Laur - worry over rallies on Friday
A young policewoman mourns with her colleagues as a man bows his head in front of a sea of flowers at Mannheim's marketplace. Videos online show how much the deadly knife attack in Mannheim has emotionally affected people not only in the city, but also beyond. The 29-year-old police officer, Rouven Laur, lost his life after being attacked on Friday. A 25-year-old Afghan man injured five others when he attacked participants of the Islam-critical movement Pax Europa (BPE) with a knife. However, the knife attack has resulted in a political debate surrounding stricter deportations and caused concerns about potential clashes at upcoming demonstrations in the city.
A week after the incident, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled to commemorate Rouven Laur in Mannheim. He will be accompanied by Baden-Württemberg's Minister President, Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), and Interior Minister, Thomas Strobl (CDU). The state government has requested that employees of the ministries, schools, and state parliament join them for a minute of silence at 11:34 a.m. - the exact time of the deadly attack on the police officer.
Meanwhile, the AfD has called for a protest against Islamism on the marketplace at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Simultaneously, an anti-fascist counter-demonstration is planned. The city temporarily banned such events, such as demonstrations, on the marketplace on Tuesday. It deemed the square a site of remembrance until June 16. However, the AfD sued against this - the Administrative Court of Karlsruhe granted emergency relief on Thursday. The city has filed an appeal, and the Administrative Court of Baden-Württemberg must now make a decision. The city prefers to host the demonstration on the neighboring parade square.
"We want to demonstrate two days before the European election right where Islamic terror has struck to send a clear political message throughout the republic," announced AfD state chairman Markus Frohnmaier.
In anticipation of the planned demonstrations on Friday, council members expressed their concerns. Already on Sunday, there were tense moments at the marketplace. An inter-party alliance called for a vigil against violence and hatred. At the same time, a demonstration by the Young Alternative, the youth organization of the AfD, took place on the marketplace under the slogan "Remigration would have prevented this incident!". On the internet, there are videos showing demonstrators creating a human chain in the city center while the police clashed with a group of Antifa activists. These activists waved red flags and set off Bengalos; they shouted "Nazis out" on the marketplace.
The five injured men are still dealing with the aftermath a week later. A representative of Pax Europa, Stefanie Kizina, reveals that they are all still in shock. "You have to pull yourself together, you have to process it first," she says. "We've always lived with the risk, but somehow we thought it wouldn't happen, it wouldn't be so bad." Board member Michael Stürzenberger returned to the hospital due to bleeding from his wounds. The 59-year-old will not be able to return to work for at least four to eight weeks.
Pax Europa will now place more emphasis on the safety of its members. "There will be no more events without protective grilles. The police are paying more attention to us," says Kizina.
The police officers involved in the incident are receiving psychological care. A spokesperson for the Mannheim Police chose not to comment on the subject. On Tuesday, Mannheim Police Headquarters' president, Ulrike Schäfer, spoke only about the officers receiving psychological support.
Criminal and police psychologist Ursula Gasch explained to the "Mannheimer Morgen" (Friday edition) that events like this knife attack with a fatal outcome lead to a collective reaction of shock and grief. She stated that terms like "police culture" often have a negative connotation, but demonstrate the camaraderie needed for dealing with potentially life-threatening situations. "An attack on a police officer is consequently felt as an attack on every police officer, anywhere."
However, more than a week later, the police officers are still reeling from the tragedy, according to Ralf Kusterer, the chairman of the German Police Union. "The people are naturally also disappointed," he says, describing the sentiments among officers. "The frustration towards politics is immense." After such events, extensive political discussions and demands frequently ensue, but nothing ever seems to change in the end. Therefore, it is crucial to discuss specific measures such as further training, protective equipment, and treatment for wounds after attacks.
The police unions are also looking into better psychological support for police officers involved in traumatic events. "It is essential to ensure that police officers receive the support they need after such incidents," says Kusterer. "They must not be left alone with their feelings."
Gasch agreed: "The psychological effect on police officers following an attack is paramount. They must receive support to cope with the emotional burden."
The deadly knife attack has ignited an intense discussion regarding tighter deportations. In response, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) plans to resume the deportation of serious criminals to Afghanistan and Syria. Scholz stated in the Bundestag on Thursday, "Criminals like these should be deported, even if they're from Afghanistan and Syria. Their threat level has not been reduced."
It's unclear how Scholz plans to achieve this at the moment. The Federal Interior Ministry is in the process of developing the practical methods for implementation, and they've already begun discussions with the neighboring nations of Afghanistan.
