Mannheim: Horror over police officer death after attack – motive unclear

The death of a young police officer after an attack in Mannheim has caused dismay across the country. At the same time, the consequences of Friday’s attack are being debated. Mayor Christian Specht (CDU) has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast at the city hall from this Monday.

In the attack, a man injured six men, including the police officer, on Friday morning at an event organized by the anti-Islam movement Pax Europa (BPE) on the market square in the city center. The 29-year-old died of his injuries on Sunday afternoon. The attacker stabbed the officer several times in the head area.

Nationwide mourning for killed police officer

Police authorities, state criminal police offices and the Federal Criminal Police Office across the country mourned the deceased colleague on the X platform under the hashtag #einervonuns. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “I am deeply shocked by the death of the police officer who courageously intervened in Mannheim to protect human lives.” Steinmeier also expressed concern about a “brutalization of political debate and the growing propensity to violence in our country.” “This cannot continue. Violence endangers what has made our democracy strong,” warned the Federal President.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wrote on X: “His commitment to the safety of us all deserves the highest recognition. In these bitter hours, my thoughts are with his family and all those who mourn him.” CDU leader Friedrich Merz stressed on X: “The knife attack on Friday has today turned into an insidious murder. My thoughts are with the family. It is simply terrible. This murder must have harsh consequences, even for those who sympathize with the perpetrator.”

Motive of Mannheim perpetrator unclear

The state security department of the Karlsruhe public prosecutor’s office, which is responsible for political crimes, took over the investigation after the attack. However, the motive of the 25-year-old perpetrator is still unclear. So far, the man, who was born in Afghanistan and came to Germany as a teenager in 2014, has not been able to be questioned – he was also injured in the minutes after the attack.

However, many politicians combined their statements with warnings about Islamism. “The perpetrator must be punished with the maximum severity of the law for his murderous act. The motive is still being investigated, but one thing is clear: our security authorities have the Islamist scene firmly in their sights and are continuing to intensify this fight,” wrote Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) on X.

FDP leader Christian Lindner expressed his anger at what is happening in our country on the platform. “We must defend ourselves against Islamist terrorism. We will continue to strengthen the security authorities financially to do this. Enough of false tolerance,” warned the Federal Finance Minister.

AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla expressed concern that officials “have to put their lives in danger every day because of a misguided migration and security policy.” Weidel and Chrupalla also called for an end to immigration from Afghanistan and for repatriations to be initiated.

Kretschmann shaken “to the core”

In Baden-Württemberg, politicians were also shocked by the death of the young police officer. “The news shocks me to the core,” said Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann. “This terrible act painfully shows us all the often incalculable risks that police officers are exposed to every day,” said the Green politician. Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) said the death was “infinitely sad.” “These are moments when the world seems to stand still.” The reality is: “For the police officers, every operation can potentially be dangerous, with unforeseeable consequences for their health and their lives.”

Baden-Württemberg’s Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz (Greens) also focused on the dangers of Islamism. “If the obvious suspicion that this is actually an Islamist act is confirmed, then it is high time for an honest debate about the dangers of Islamism – without naivety, without blinkers, without double standards,” wrote Bayaz on X. An enlightened society can be expected to have a ruthless debate “if it does not cast general suspicion on anyone, but at the same time calls things clearly by their name,” stressed the Green politician. The Greens’ federal chairwoman Ricarda Lang said on the ARD program “Caren Miosga”: “Islamism is the enemy of free society. It must be treated exactly as such.”

After the police officer’s death was announced, Mannheim’s mayor Christian Specht said: “His death shows what hatred and incitement can do.” At the same time, the CDU politician appealed to citizens: “I ask you all: Let us pause in the face of this tragic development and work together to unite our city society in all its diversity and avoid any division!”