Germany will toughen penalties for Islamist and politically motivated attacks, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a government statement to the Bundestag on the current security situation in the country.
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Last Friday, May 31, in Mannheim, Afghan Suleiman Atai attacked the famous critic of Islamism, Michael Stürzenberger, with a knife during a rally of the right-wing movement PAX Europa. As a result of the incident, six people were injured, including Stürzenberger, and police officer Ruven L. died from his wounds on Sunday. The assailant was wounded by police gunfire.
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“Our state takes such crimes very seriously. Anyone who attacks women and men from behind who want to help and save lives, or lures them into an ambush, must feel the full force of the law. To do this, we will tighten criminal legislation and be more severely punish such vile attacks,” Scholz said, commenting on the attack in Mannheim. His speech was broadcast on the German government website.
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The German chancellor called it outrageous that serious crimes were being committed by people granted refugee status in the country and said that they should be deported, even if they came from countries such as Afghanistan and Syria.
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“Criminals and terrorists have no place here. In such cases, Germany’s security interests outweigh the criminal’s interests in protection,” he said.
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According to the Chancellor, the government and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are checking the possibilities of tightening the relevant rules. The head of the Cabinet also proposes to expand the zones where carrying weapons and, in particular, knives is prohibited.
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At the same time, Scholz mentioned politically motivated attacks, promising to take equally strict measures in this case as well.
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As an example, the Chancellor cited the attack on Roderich Kiesewetter, known for his calls to maximize military aid to Ukraine. A member of the German Bundestag was injured last week at a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) election stand in the town of Ahlen in Baden-Württemberg. The man who attacked him allegedly called the politician a “warmonger” and then hit him.
