- The Assault in Solingen, Germany, and Its Aftermath
Fear has taken over where joy used to be. The harmony of music and laughter has been replaced by an ominous quiet. The day following the city celebration of Solingen, which is currently the topic of conversation everywhere, a chilling wind echoes through an abandoned pedestrian area. A barricaded carousel adorned with teddy bear decorations remains stationary, and the spotlights on the stage continue to flash intermittently. But there isn't a soul in sight. Not a single one.
Solingen, a bustling city of approximately 160,000 people nestled between Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Wuppertal, is still reeling from the events that unfolded during its 650th birthday celebration, known as the "Festival of Diversity." The entire nation is grappling with the aftermath. In the hours that followed, NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) arrived at the scene. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is advocating for severe consequences for the perpetrator.
At this point, there is scant information available regarding the motive. What is known is that on the previous Friday evening, an individual allegedly indiscriminately attacked festival attendees with a knife. Three individuals - a woman and two men - lost their lives, and several others were gravely wounded.
Due to his strategic approach - he targeted the victims by striking them in the neck - authorities consider it an assault. Following the attack, he is believed to have fled amidst the chaos. The police urged people via Facebook to avoid the Solingen city center.
Fear is spreading
The next day, many aspects of the attack remain unclear. However, the unease is palpable. "I informed my husband that we can't venture out in crowded areas anymore," said an elderly woman who has resided near the crime scene for decades. "Suddenly, there's a knife in your back. You have to be fearful," she says.
A worker from an ice cream parlor approaches her timidly, asking if she had witnessed the attack. She denies it. He responds, "That's a relief."
Another resident acknowledges her fear. She confessed to not having slept a wink throughout the night. "Police, fire department, and helicopters," she lists. She didn't attend the festival, despite considering it on several occasions. "We wished to, but we're relieved we didn't go." Above all, she's troubled by the apparent inadequacy of the security measures. "I can't understand it," she laments reluctantly. "Solingen has been in the spotlight a lot recently."
This sentiment is heard often in the city. Solingen, which seems to find itself in the headlines frequently. And yet again. In March, four people succumbed to a fire in a top-floor apartment. A former tenant is thought to have initiated it. In June, an individual dropped a bottle containing a harmful substance in front of a Solingen business, resulting in an explosion. The man later perished. There are indications that the incident may be connected to the activities of the so-called Dutch Mocro-Mafia, which has been a topic of discussion in NRW for weeks.
Many people will also recall a nighttime arson attack in Solingen in 1993, in which five Turkish women and girls were murdered by extremist right-wing individuals. The attack marked the lowest point of a series of racist attacks against individuals of foreign origin in Germany.
Instead of a carefree celebration, there was panic.
This should not have been the outcome of the 650th anniversary celebration. Solingen is striving to portray itself positively. It refers to itself as "The Blade City of Germany" due to its rich history in the manufacture of blades, knives, and scissors, especially swords and daggers during the Middle Ages. The "German Blade Museum" is also based in the city.
Not only Solingen, but also Germany, needs to find a way to cope with these events. Knife attacks have increased, and Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) recently announced stricter gun laws, although it did not effectively quell the debate. And next week, state elections are scheduled in Saxony and Thuringia.
Just a stone's throw from the crime scene in Solingen, someone left a message. It reads: "We will never forget you."
The incident has led to a widespread fear in Germany, as Solingen is not just a city affected, but a nation grappling with the aftermath. Many residents in Solingen, a city known for its rich blade history, are questioning the security measures in place, considering the city's recent rise in unwanted attention.
