Prime Minister Scholz made a "tough" statement.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on the morning of August 26th that he would step up deportations and reduce illegal immigration. Scholz made the statement during a visit to the city of Solingen, where three people were killed in a mass stabbing attack last weekend.

"This is an act of terrorism, terrorism against all of us," Prime Minister Scholz told reporters in the western city after laying flowers at the attack site to commemorate the victims.

Special forces officers inside a building in Solingen, Germany, on August 24, 2024. Photo: NY Times

Specifically, on the evening of August 23rd, during the Solingen Diversity Festival celebrating the city's 650th anniversary, the suspect attacked with a knife, killing three people and injuring eight others, five of whom sustained serious injuries. One person is in critical condition in the hospital.

The suspect, believed to be Syrian, may have links to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization. According to German media, the suspect was supposed to be deported in 2023.

This 26-year-old man arrived in Germany from Bulgaria, and his asylum application was rejected. According to the European Union's "Dublin Rules" asylum system, Bulgaria should be held responsible for his deportation.

However, the deportation attempt was unsuccessful because the individual was not present at his asylum when authorities attempted to carry out the measure, German media reported.

The attack has heightened political tensions over asylum and deportation regulations, as well as violent crime, ahead of three state elections in Germany next month.

"We will have to do everything we can to ensure that those who cannot and are not allowed to stay in Germany are repatriated and deported," Scholz said during a visit to the city of Solingen.

Less than 48 hours after the attack, protests erupted in Saxony and Thuringia against the far-right AfD party. Ahead of the state elections on September 1st, the protesters wanted to erect a "firewall" against the "far right".

"With our protest, we call on all Democrats to draw a line between the far right and the AfD – before and after the state elections," the protest organizers said.

In Dresden, where the three murdered victims are commemorated, some have warned against using this atrocity for political purposes. The mayor of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung, an SPD politician, has warned of the dangers of right-wing extremism.

In Erfurt, 4,500 people protested against the AfD with the slogan: "Stop right-wing extremism - go vote on Sunday (September 1st)". In Solingen, the AfD's own youth organization also held a protest with the slogan "Migration saves lives," attracting around 30-40 participants.

While the far left used the attack to protest the far-right AfD party, center-left socialists attempted to downplay the consequences.

The federal chair of the SPD, Saskia Esken, stated on ARD television on August 25th: "I don't think there's much to learn from this particular attack, because it's clear that the police didn't know the perpetrator and therefore couldn't track him down."

She stressed that it is impossible to monitor everyone in Germany. "We should not give up our freedoms for security, and we will not do so."

Conversely, the center-right CDU party is calling for "answers" from Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (of Scholz's SPD party). The group of MPs from this party is demanding that she reveal everything she knows about the alleged perpetrator, as well as her plans to improve security in Germany.

Minh Duc (According to Brussels Signal, CGTN)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/vu-dam-dao-o-duc-thu-tuong-scholz-tuyen-bo-ran-204240826211408784.htm