Crime - Wüst: Don't relativize the Bad Oeynhausen crime
After the fatal attack on a young man in Bad Oeynhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) warned against politicizing the violence. The family of the 20-year-old victim also expressed a desire for restraint, Wüst stated in a recent press conference at the Landtag.
Extreme right-wing political forces attempted to gain political capital from the young man's death. "Any attempt to exploit Philip's terrible death for political purposes is unacceptable," Wüst said. However, not all the details of the crime are clear yet. At the same time, Wüst emphasized: "This crime deserves a harsh, fair punishment."
The suspect in the case is an 18-year-old Syrian. He is alleged to have attacked the 20-year-old in the early hours of June 23rd for unknown reasons, striking him on the head and kicking him. The victim died a few days later in the hospital. The suspect, according to investigators, came to Germany in 2016 as part of a family reunification with parents and siblings.
Wüst: No downplaying the crime
The people of Germany expect "things to be called by their names" in such a situation, Wüst stated. "So that we can help people in the future who are fleeing war and displacement, irregular migration must be stopped." However, even if the country were at this point, "it would not have changed anything about this crime," the head of government added. The suspect was enrolled in school in Germany and was supposed to receive an education. "He had the chance for a good life. He did not use it – quite the opposite," Wüst said.
"This despicable crime must in no way be trivialized. There are no circumstances that could justify such a violent act." At the same time, Wüst reaffirmed his demand: "It must be possible, wherever it is feasible, to deport serious offenders who are not German citizens."
- The CDU, led by North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst, has strongly condemned the politicization of the violent attack in Bad Oeynhausen.
- In a press conference at the Landtag, Wüst expressed concern about extreme right-wing forces trying to exploit the young man's death for political gain.
- The suspect in the case, an 18-year-old Syrian, had migrated to Germany in 2016 and was enrolled in school, but allegedly committed a violent crime that led to the death of a 20-year-old victim in Düsseldorf.
- Wüst emphasized the importance of addressing irregular migration and stopping it, to ensure protection for those fleeing war and displacement in the future.
- Despite the suspect's background, Wüst reiterated the need for serious offenders who are not German citizens to be deported, if feasible, to prevent such crimes from happening again.
