The knife attack, which is suspected to be by a Syrian asylum seeker and which German authorities are investigating as a possible act of terrorism, has reignited a heated debate over migration in Germany ahead of regional elections in which the right-wing, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) is expected to rise.
A 26-year-old Syrian man was arrested on suspicion of killing three people and seriously injuring several others at a festival in the western city of Solingen on Friday night. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday, although the authorities have not yet been able to confirm the accuracy of that claim.
"It was a terrorist act," said Chancellor Olaf Solc during his visit to Zolingen yesterday. "I want to clearly say that I am angry and furious about this act, which must be quickly and severely punished." Soltz has promised to step up deportations, maintain border checks introduced during the European Championships and tighten gun regulations, especially when it comes to the use of knives.
However, those promises are unlikely to do much to calm the heated debate over immigration that has erupted since the attack. Migration is a key concern among voters ahead of regional elections in eastern Germany in September. The right-wing AfD, with its anti-immigration message, is in the lead in all three provinces according to local polls.
"Given the daily headlines about violence by foreigners, it is no longer possible to say that such events are unpredictable and surprising," Björn Hecke, the AfD's leading candidate in the state of Thuringia, where elections are held on Sunday, posted on the X network. "That's why the government is an accomplice. But the circumstances will change only when those responsible are finally replaced in the elections!”
. "If democratic politics does not show the ability to act now, the opponents of democracy will win," said Nojman
The suspect in the Zollingen attack had his asylum application rejected last year and was slated for deportation to Bulgaria, a country that German authorities held responsible for processing the application. However, the deportation never took place. For this reason, the attack has been compared to the killing of a police officer in the city of Mannheim in early June, carried out by an Afghan armed with a knife, whose asylum application was initially rejected, but still managed to stay in Germany.
Germany has seen an increase in knife attacks in recent months, sparking a national debate about increased security measures and knife-free zones. According to the data of the federal police, around 430 such attacks took place in the first half of 2024, writes the "Politiko" portal.
Analysts warn that the far right in Germany will be the biggest winner if the mainstream parties are unable to stop such violence.
"After the attack, politicians make harsh demands and raise high expectations, which are quickly let down and ultimately further undermine trust in politics," said Peter Neumann, a professor at King's College London and one of the country's leading experts on terrorism. "If democratic politics does not show the ability to act now, the opponents of democracy will win".
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