Illegal activities or wrongdoings. - Watch over vigil following knife assault; probing into motivation
The people of Mannheim plan to send a strong message following the knife attack that left seven injured on the market square: A coalition of individuals from various political parties is organizing a vigil today. These organizers aim to form a human chain in the city center under the slogan "Solidarity against violence, hatred, and incitement."
"We want to host a non-violent event without any confrontational slogans or flags," said councilor Gerhard Fontagnier of the Green party to the "Mannheimer Morgen." The vigil will be led by a wide range of political groups from almost all the parties represented in the city council.
The reason for the vigil comes from a gathering of the Young Alternative Baden-Württemberg, the youth wing of the AfD party. The AfD also plans to hold a vigil at the market square this afternoon under the motto "Remigration would have prevented this act!" The city administration has acknowledged a pending application for this event.
The suspect was initially untraceable
Investigators are now looking to learn more about the motives of the 25-year-old perpetrator and the planning of the crime. The man, who was born in Afghanistan but has lived in Germany since he was 15, remains uninterrogatable due to his own injuries sustained during the attack.
He is currently being charged with attempted murder, as announced by the state's public prosecutor's office and the criminal police on Saturday. Prior to the attack, he had never been in police custody and resides in Heppenheim, Hesse.
During the incident, the man injured six men on the market square while an event involving the Islam-critical movement Pax Europa (BPE) was taking place on Friday morning. A police officer was also seriously injured and is currently in an artificial coma, still in danger as of Saturday.
Faeser and Strobl vow to take action against those glorifying the attacker
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) and Baden-Württemberg Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) have both promised to take decisive action against anyone celebrating the attacker's knife attack on the internet. "It's despicable and deplorable to glorify the murderous knife attack. Anyone who does so must be pursued rigorously by the authorities," said Faeser to the "Bild am Sonntag."
Strobl echoed Faeser's statement, telling the newspaper: "Crimes - especially murder offenses - will be punished harshly, and not celebrated."
Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer called the images of the knife attack a heartbreaking reminder of where extremism leads. "We will never tolerate violence, regardless of whether it comes from the left, the right, or the Islamist environment," said Nehammer to the "Bild am Sonntag."
Could the attack have been a targeted strike on an Islamic critic?
One of the victims of the attack is BPE board member Michael Stürzenberger. According to treasurer Stefanie Kizina, the 59-year-old Munich resident has been targeted. Stürzenberger, who is actively involved in criticizing Islam, has been under surveillance by the Bavarian Constitutional Protection.
Stürzenberger spoke to a right-wing conservative medium from his hospital bed, where he was treated for facial and leg cuts. Police provided first aid, he shared. Regardless of the attack in Mannheim, the BPE plans to appear at other public events. Kizina believes that police will "step up security measures" at these events.
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- Despite the vigil organized by various political parties in Mannheim, the AfD's youth wing, Young Alternative Baden-Württemberg, also plans a vigil at the market square, emphasizing the remigration of individuals as a solution.
- The city administration is currently processing the application for the AfD's vigil, scheduled to take place after the coalition's human chain event.
- The 25-year-old perpetrator of the knife attack, born in Afghanistan and residing in Heppenheim, Hesse, remains in critical condition and uninterrogatable due to his injuries.
- Karl Nehammer, the Chancellor of Austria, denounced the knife attack and expressed his opposition to violence, no matter its source, in response to the incident.
- Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Baden-Württemberg Interior Minister Thomas Strobl pledged to take action against those celebrating the attack on the internet as deplorable and despicable acts.
- The suspect initially eluded authorities during their investigation into the knife attack, which left seven injured and a police officer in critical condition.
- Michael Stürzenberger, a board member of the Islam-critical movement Pax Europa (BPE), is one of the victims of the attack, sparking concerns of a targeted strike against outspoken critics.
- BPE treasurer Stefanie Kizina expressed her belief that police will increase security measures at future public events, in light of the attack in Mannheim that left BPE members injured.
- The perpetrator injured six men on the market square during the BPE event on Friday morning, raising concerns about the potential escalation of extremism and violence in Germany.
- As the country grapples with the aftermath of the knife attack, citizens' movements, political parties, and law enforcement agencies are working together to address crimes and deter future incidents of extremism.
