The chatter's buzzing loud. - Knife assaults surge, union pushes for knife bans in public spaces
Amid an uptick in knife-related violence, like those reported in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany's Police Union is lobbying for a sweeping ban on carrying knives in public areas such as streets and squares. Olaf Sendel, chair of the police union in the state, argues that bad eggs aren't particular about blade lengths.
Restrictions could be flexible for cultural events or pastimes like fishing or hunting. According to Sendel, it's odd to spot folks carrying knives in city centers. Size doesn't matter when a 2-centimeter blade can cause harm.
The knife assault discourse ignited from the suspected Islamist attack that claimed three lives in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition, knife incidents have multiplied in Saxony-Anhalt.
Numerous knife assaults made the Police Crime Statistics in 2020 for the first time. The count reached 896 incidents in 2021, with a staggering 1,069 cases reported in 2023 (figures sourced from the state criminal police office). A 27-year-old Afghan resident from Wolmirstedt (Börde district) brutally murdered a 23-year-old and injured several others at a private EM garden party in mid-June.
Majority of suspects are young men and adolescents
Over half (52%) of the suspects in 2022 were young men, with 34% under 21 years old. Remarkably, 68% of suspects were German nationals.
With growing worry, Sendel, head of the Police Union, accentuates the need for policing control options. He advocates for the capability of random, suspicion-free inspections. Concurrently, he supports a stronger stance towards criminal foreigners.
Tamara Zieschang, Saxony-Anhalt's State Minister of the Interior (CDU), recently advocated for stricter deportation regulations, including for countries like Syria and Afghanistan. There are presently around 230 deportable individuals from Afghanistan and 290 from Syria in Saxony-Anhalt, according to Interior Ministry statistics.
Oddly, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has impeded deportation for approximately 2,450 Afghan and 450 Syrian nationals who, theoretically, should be deported.
The escalating knife assaults, including incidents affiliated with extremist groups, pose a considerable concern. Addressing this issue is crucial, given the fact that the majority of suspects are young men and adolescents.
Extremist organizations often leverage violence as a weapon. The escalating knife assaults might be a reflection of such extremism.
Interesting Information
- Knife assaults have triggered a heightened focus on security and legislation in Germany, with particular emphasis on Saxony-Anhalt.
- Authorities have been enhancing surveillance and deploying security measures to combat terror attacks and violent episodes.
