Terrorism: Faeser to Solingen attack: No failures at the BAMF

According to ex-Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, there was no omissions to the Federal Office of Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in the asylum procedure of the suspect of Solingen’s knife attack. “Based on this information, no procedural errors can be seen in the BAMF,” said the SPD politician as a witness in the committee of inquiry of the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament to the allegedly Islamistically motivated attack.

Until the crime on August 23 of last year, the suspect was unknown to the BAMF security department. “Asylum Vita shows no irregularities,” said the politician in Düsseldorf. The Federal Criminal Police Office also had no general police or state protection -relevant knowledge of the person – nor the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

Bloody attack with IS background

In the attack, a knife attacker at the “Festival of Diversity” stabbed three visitors to the city’s 650th anniversary. The alleged Islamist assassin is a 27-year-old Syrian who has been in custody since then. The IS complained to the attack for himself.

The committee of inquiry examines possible failures and errors of the state government, but also structural deficits in the event of deportations and returns to other EU countries. Among other things, the question is why the back of Issa Al H. to Bulgaria had failed long before the crime.

Rejected asylum seeker was not tangible

Faeser described the processes. Accordingly, the BAMF had properly placed a transfer to Bulgaria, which was originally responsible for the asylum procedure. After Bulgaria had agreed, the BAMF rejected the asylum application as inadmissible, reported Faeser.

The responsible central immigration authority (ZAB) in Bielefeld had made an unannounced attempt to transition, but did not meet Issa al H. that day. According to their level of knowledge, there was no further attempts to transfers through the ZAB, said Faeser.

If someone-without an announcement-is not found in the accommodation, this is not considered a fleet in the sense of the European Dublin III regulation, the ex-minister explained. Therefore, the transfer period, as is usually the case, could not be extended to 18 months.

“The transfer period to Bulgaria ended on August 20, 2023,” said Faeser. “The responsibility for the implementation of the asylum procedure was thus transferred to Germany.”

Issa Al H. stated in his personal hearing that he had withdrawn the military service in Syria and also wanted to improve its economic conditions. “The asylum decision of the BAMF corresponds to the decision -making practice at the time to the country of origin of Syria,” said Faeser.

Solingen attack was the reason for security package

As a result of the Solingen terrorist attack, the previous federal government agreed on a security package with far -reaching measures in record time in order to better protect the population, emphasized Faeser. Much has been initiated beforehand.

The measures included teasing weapons rights, new betting zones and a number of residence law measures to be able to deport offenders more easily and faster. In the meantime, the authorities could also have all the rooms of an asylum seeker accommodation searched for those affected.

Much need for improvement in Europe

The fact is that there is still many mistakes in the system in connection with the distribution and return of asylum seekers, said Faeser. Many countries that would have to withdraw refugees according to the European rules (“Dublin procedure”) refused to this or build very restrictive conditions – for example with very low weekly odds, narrow time windows and the like.

The fiber had driven to Solingen the day after the crime to get its own picture of the situation. “Although there can never be a hundred percent security in a free democracy, but if they are assured that all options are and are being exhausted to prevent terrorist attacks,” emphasized the politician.