- The Disquieting Hours in Solingen: "It's All Dystopian-Feeling"
After countless hours traversing the city, tiny candle flames struggle to survive before a church in Solingen. It's suddenly turned chilly, there's a bitter wind, and this is August. People continue to show up and light fresh candles. And a large sign displays the question, "Why?"
However, the tranquility was disrupted on a Friday evening when three individuals lost their lives in a horrifying stabbing incident at Solingen's city festival, the "Festival of Diversity". The events that unfolded in the following hours, some expected, others not, transformed not just the city but also its approximately 160,000 inhabitants. Late Saturday evening, a suspect was apprehended, believed to be the perpetrator. A 26-year-old individual of Syrian descent. He was marked by blood.
The scene of crime, currently under lockdown, is where Philipp Müller stands the following morning. Müller helped set up the 650-year celebration that Solingen was supposed to hold. On the dreadful night, he was contacted. He witnessed revived victims. He saw the deceased.
From festival to crime scene
"Those horrifying images were burned into my mind all the previous day," he acknowledges. And to be entirely honest, he also indulged in a drink. Now, with a tone of oddity, he's turning his attention back to organization. Musical instruments still stand on the stage where the attack transpired. He wishes to return them to the band. Even the stage lights are still glowing. "We proposed to extinguish them. But the police stated: It's a crime scene," Müller says. He understands the importance of forensic investigation, but he also mentions, "It's all unnerving."
Ever since the horrifying incident, Solingen has been living a nightmare. The assailant vanished post-attack and remained elusive. No police surveillance footage was available. The attacker remained a phantom, keeping the situation riddled with uncertainty and confusion. As dark as the night was during the crime, NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) made an appearance. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) called for a harsh penalty for the perpetrator. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) arrived the following day, accompanied by NRW Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) and - yet again - Reul. She labeled the attack as despicable and added, "We will not allow ourselves to be fragmented in such times, but rather stand united and prevent such a gruesome attack from dividing society."
However, the city's residents are not only worried about potential divisions but also about the immediate threat. The authorities are unable to share much information with the concerned population. Is there an accessible, publishable photo of the attacker? No. What was the motive? Difficult to ascertain. The social networks are flooded with comments. Other cities cancel their festivities. In Solingen, there's tension. Many people are agonizing, "Can I still venture out? Is the perpetrator still lurking within the city? Or has he departed, hinting at his absence as well?"
Reports of police activities across the country are making headlines. On Saturday night, the police raided a refugee shelter in Solingen. But it wasn't until late into the night that a moment of relief arrived. A suspect surrendered, claiming to be the attacker. He wasn't nabbed in Berlin, Hamburg, or abroad, but right near the crime scene - just several hundred meters away.
According to Spiegel's report, the individual arrived in Germany at the end of 2022 and submitted an asylum application. These details were later confirmed by Deutsche Presse-Agentur. His deportation was unsuccessful last year. Terrorist group IS claimed responsibility for the act.
Fear and anger are surging in the city. "Solingen seems to be in the spotlight rather frequently," admits a resident with a sigh. In March, four individuals perished in a blaze in an attic apartment, allegedly set by a past tenant. In June, an individual triggered an explosion by dropping a container filled with some substance before a Solingen establishment. The city's collective memory recalls a 1993 arson attack in which five Turkish women and girls were murdered by right-wing extremists.
These unfortunate occurrences were not intended to overshadow the 650th anniversary celebrations. Solingen aims to project a positive image, calling itself "The Blade City of Germany" due to its rich history in the production of blades, knives, and scissors, especially swords and daggers during the Middle Ages. The city also houses the "German Blade Museum". Dealing with this recent history becomes complicated.
However, it's not just Solingen that must cope with these events, the nation as a whole will need to find ways to process them. The rising incidents of knife attacks prompted Interior Minister Faeser to propose stricter gun control laws, a proposal that the FDP has thus far rejected. Furthermore, state elections are taking place in Saxony and Thuringia soon. Migration is already a constant topic.
"Everything changed now"
The scheduled festive church service for the 650th city anniversary in Solingen was supposed to take place on Sunday morning. It was promptly altered into a memorial service, attended by numerous individuals. "Everything has transformed now," summarizes pastor Friederike Höroldt. "We feel our helplessness and powerlessness in these days."
Festival co-organizer Philipp Müller does not wish to succumb to helplessness. When asked if a celebration could take place next year given the recent events, he replies, "Of course! That's tradition - after the festival, before the festival. I'm determined on that. I'll talk to everyone involved. Then we'll see if we can celebrate again here next August."
Despite the tragedy at the Festival of Diversity, plans for next year's festival are not completely abandoned. Co-organizer Philipp Müller expresses his determination to bring back the celebration, stating, "Of course! That's tradition - after the festival, before the festival. I'm determined on that. I'll talk to everyone involved. Then we'll see if we can celebrate again here next August."
The city of Solingen, deeply affected by the stabbing incident at the Festival of Diversity, will continue to honor its rich history as "The Blade City of Germany," hosting events and attractions such as the German Blade Museum.
