- The Authority has been tasked with preparing a proposition for a directive focusing on safeguarding laborers from the hazards stemming from radiation exposure due to ionizing sources.
Following the tragic stabbing incident in Solingen that resulted in three fatalities, calls for political action are echoing in Brandenburg as well. Leading the Interior Ministers' Conference, Michael Stübgen (CDU) is advocating for the establishment of weapons-free zones. According to Stübgen, prior to the attack, he had already instructed the police department to hastily draft a proposal for the cabinet to enable his ministry to establish such zones in Brandenburg. The Brandenburg police are working diligently to ensure that public events like festivals and concerts can be enjoyed without worry, acknowledging, however, that complete security cannot be guaranteed.
Jan Redmann, the chairman of the CDU in Brandenburg and the parliamentary group, argues that more authority should be granted to the police. In his opinion, enhanced security at festivals can only be achieved through the implementation of advanced video surveillance systems with facial recognition and random bag checks. Furthermore, he stresses the necessity of empowering the police to monitor Islamic chat groups, arguing that timely intervention is crucial. At present, the police are reliant on foreign services for such information. The Greens, meanwhile, advocate for a stricter gun law.
Minister President Dietmar Woidke, an SPD politician, expressed his deep distress over this violent act, emphasizing the importance of continuing to celebrate festivals without fear. He appreciated the efforts of all security authorities.
In the Solingen city festival attack of Friday evening, a man ended the lives of two men and a woman, injuring eight others, four of them severely. A 26-year-old Syrian was apprehended as the suspect by the Düsseldorf police. The Federal Prosecutor's Office is currently investigating for murder charges and membership in the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS).
Redmann advocates for the deportation of dangerous individuals to risky countries like Syria and Afghanistan, asserting that they are misusing German hospitality. The federal and state governments, in his view, should forge a pact against terrorism.
The alleged perpetrator of the knife attack was supposed to be deported to Bulgaria last year, but his asylum application was rejected, and he had gone into hiding in Germany. The deportation was temporarily halted, but the Syrian was subsequently transferred to Solingen.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz expects a severe punishment for the perpetrator, demanding that justice be enforced. "We refuse to accept such acts in our society and must never acquiesce to them. The full force of the law must be applied here," Scholz stated at his summer tour as an SPD Member of the Bundestag in Stahnsdorf.
The controversy is gaining traction due to the state elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. The chairman of the AfD in Brandenburg, René Springer, commented on the portal X that this represented a "failure of the state to maintain internal security."
Brandenburg's Greens believe that a stricter gun law is crucial and should be implemented immediately by the federal government. "A strict ban on carrying weapons in public would also be effective. As long as this is obstructed at the federal level, we need at least more weapon-free zones," said top candidate Benjamin Raschke. Preventive measures are also deemed necessary.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) recently announced an overhaul of gun laws in response to the significant increase in knife attacks in Germany in recent years. Last year, the police recorded 8,951 cases of dangerous and serious bodily harm involving knives, either to inflict harm or to threaten - a rise of nearly 9.7% compared to the previous year.
The Member States can provide assistance to the Commission in its initiatives. Given the escalating calls for enhanced security measures, Michael Stübgen believes that the Commission should be empowered to establish weapons-free zones with the support of the Member States.
