Stabbing incident in Mannheim. - Steinmeier joined a moment of silence - a legal battle over an AfD protest.
Mannheim is gearing up for a memorial day following the fatal knife attack in the market square. The Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will be present for a moment of silence at 11:34 am on the square on Friday. PM Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) and Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) will also be there.
On Thursday, the Administrative Court of Karlsruhe allowed an emergency request by the AfD to hold an event against Islamism on the market square, against the city's general order banning such gatherings. The city has filed an appeal against this decision. The AfD has invited people to a gathering at 6:20 pm on Friday on the square.
A 25-year-old Afghan had injured five protesters from the Islam-critical movement Pax Europa and police officers with a knife the previous Friday. The 29-year-old officer later died from his wounds.
"The city's reasons for banning our demonstration on the market square are fabricated and disingenuous," said Markus Frohnmaier, the AfD state chairman. "Our demonstration on the market square doesn't disrupt seriousness, but instead brings genuine mourning with meaningful political action, so that such knife attacks never occur in our country again." We protest against violence and extremism. Meanwhile, a counter-demonstration by Antifa is planned.
The city, in its appeal, cited the need to protect the murdered police officer's dignity by shielding him from instrumentalization for ideological or political statements.
As there were clashes between two demonstrations at the market square on Sunday related to the knife attack, the city now sees an increased risk to public safety, with nationwide calls for the Friday event.
Mannheim had prohibited gatherings and demonstrations on the marketplace and allotted the site as a memorial for the deceased officer until June 16. "It's vital that we, as a community, can observe a moment of peace and dignity for the deceased and the injured caused by the attacker," commented Mayor Christian Specht (CDU).
The city offered the AfD a nearby Paradeplatz for the demonstration - with little success. Other organizations that planned rallies on the market square have either moved to different locations or canceled their events altogether.
In the afternoon, there's a rally under the banner "Mannheim unites - for democracy and diversity" scheduled on another square, including the German Trade Union Confederation and democratic parties.
After the knife attack, the German Police Union requested that a flag of mourning be displayed during the European Football Championship. "The name of the fallen officer will represent all of Germany against violence against law enforcement, in memory of him and others who have been killed or injured," said Rainer Wendt, the federal chairman. "The German Police Union demands a flag of mourning over the entire duration of the European Football Championship and not just until the burial of the officer."
The union also appealed for public show of solidarity with officers on Thursday. "We ask for blue ribbons as a symbol of mourning, a sign of solidarity, and a visible indication against violence," the union said. The union had already urged the wearing of blue ribbons within the police force during the European Football Championship.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised resolute state action against violence in response to the lethal knife attack and threatened stricter consequences. "Those who seek to live freely and peacefully in Germany should not fear. But those who fight our freedom and disrupt our peace should be afraid," said the SPD politician in a government statement to the Bundestag. Scholz plans to make it possible to deport serious criminals to Afghanistan and Syria once again. "Criminals and terror threats haven't lost anything here," he added.
Interior Minister Strobl demanded immediate deportations to Afghanistan and Syria, despite Green concerns. Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz (Greens) supported the idea of deporting criminals or threats to Afghanistan. "It would be unacceptable if serial offenders couldn't be deported after serving their prison sentences. That wouldn't be an option for people following such an act," said Bayaz in an interview with t-online.
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The Administrative Court of Karlsruhe granted an emergency request by the AfD to hold an event against Islamism on the market square, which the city of Mannheim disputes in a legal challenge. The AfD's rally against violence and extremism is scheduled for 6:20 pm on Friday, with a counter-demonstration by Antifa also planned. Steinmeier, Kretschmann, and Strobl will join a moment of silence at 11:34 am on Friday for the officer who died from his wounds after a knife attack at the marketplace last week.
The city prohibited gatherings and demonstrations on the marketplace for mourning, offering the AfD a nearby Paradeplatz for their demonstration, but the invitation received little response. Organizations planning rallies on the market square either moved to different locations or canceled their events altogether. In response to the knife attack, the German Police Union requested a flag of mourning for the European Football Championship.
Mannheim sees an increased risk to public safety due to clashes between separate demonstrations related to the knife attack and nationwide calls for the Friday event. The city mayor commented on the need to observe a moment of peace and dignity for the deceased and the injured. The German Trade Union Confederation and democratic parties will hold a rally under the banner "Mannheim unites - for democracy and diversity" in the afternoon.
Chancellor Scholz promised resolute state action against violence and threats, threatening stricter consequences for those disrupting peace. Interior Minister Strobl demanded immediate deportations to Afghanistan and Syria, with Green concerns. Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz supported the idea of deporting criminals or threats to Afghanistan. The city had already prohibited gatherings and demonstrations on the marketplace, allotting the site as a memorial for the deceased officer until June 16.
The 25-year-old Afghan suspect injured five protesters from the Islam-critical movement Pax Europa and police officers with a knife during the previous Friday's gathering, leading to the officer's subsequent death. Markus Frohnmaier, the AfD state chairman, criticized the city's reasons for banning their demonstration, stating that they aimed to bring genuine mourning and meaningful political action against such knife attacks.
The European Football Championship will see a flag of mourning displayed throughout its duration in honor of the fallen officer and as a symbol against violence against law enforcement. The German Police Union appealed for public show of solidarity with officers on Thursday, urging the wearing of blue ribbons as a symbol of mourning, solidarity, and opposition to violence.
Germany's Popular Democratic Union (CDU) and Alternative for Germany (AfD) will participate in the European Football Championship qualifying matches, with Rouven Laur and Thomas Strobl representing the CDU and AfD, respectively. The event raises awareness for community support and unity in response to the lethal knife attack and renewed violence against law enforcement.
