Germany Focus on mistakes by authorities after Magdeburg attack
After the death drive in Magdeburg, the debate about possible mistakes by the authorities and police in Germany is gaining momentum.
27.12.2024, 15:44
SDA
While the security concept of the organizer to protect the Christmas market and the actions of the police are under scrutiny in the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt, the focus in Berlin is also on the consequences of migration policy.
CDU/CSU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz called for tougher action against perpetrators with a migration background. "We are simply not consistent enough in dealing with the enemies of our democracy. We tolerate too many people in Germany who don't want to integrate," the CDU leader wrote in his email newsletter "MerzMail".
Deportations should also be possible if no criminal offenses have been established, Merz demanded. The perpetrator in Magdeburg appears to be a particularly aggressive opponent of Islam, Merz wrote. This perpetrator was obviously involved in conflicts on German soil that could not be tolerated. The guiding principle must be: "We do not want such (potential) criminals in our country!"
Scholz expects the authorities to come to terms
Merz recalled the history of the man, who had a criminal record for making threats. "Why don't we get rid of people like this before they cause great harm? It may be that the current legal situation does not allow for this. But then these legal regulations simply have to be changed!"
In an interview with the news portal "t-online", Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made it clear that he expects an investigation into the actions of the authorities prior to the attack. "Obviously there have been repeated references to the man over the years. My expectation is clear: it must now be examined very carefully whether there were failures on the part of the authorities in Saxony-Anhalt or at federal level. There must be no false restraint."
In Magdeburg, the security concept and thus also the safeguarding of escape and rescue routes is being investigated. "We are investigating whether these measures were implemented by the organizer and, if not, why not. The same applies to the police deployment concept," said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Interior.
Why were there no steel chains?
The perpetrator, Taleb A., who is in custody, drove a car through the Christmas market on Friday last week. Five people were killed and up to 235 injured. The man from Saudi Arabia had driven between a pedestrian crossing and a concrete blockade.
The investigation is now focusing on many details. "The distance between the pedestrian crossing and the concrete blockade was around six meters on both sides of the pedestrian crossing," the Ministry of the Interior announced. "It must now be investigated whether the Christmas market organizer's safety concept provided for such large gaps in the concrete block barriers at pedestrian crossings."
It is also a question of why escape and rescue routes - contrary to the organizer's safety concept - were not secured with steel chains. "Such steel chains should connect concrete block barriers over a greater distance. They should allow flexible opening for emergency services and the fire department to pass through", said the Ministry of the Interior.
Police vehicle not at planned location
In addition to the investigation into the attack, possible errors in police work are also being looked into. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the operational concept included presence patrols as well as vehicles with intervention forces at four locations around the Christmas market.
"The locations were not intended to permanently block footpaths or entrances to the Christmas market and only open them for emergency services and the fire department," it said. By positioning them close to some of the entrances to the Christmas market, it should therefore be possible to set up mobile barriers if necessary.
However, according to the current state of the investigation, one vehicle was located in a parking bay for cabs and therefore not in the intended location. "Why this was the case is the subject of further investigation," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior.
Christmas market being dismantled
Meanwhile, the dismantling of the Magdeburg Christmas market has begun. Traders and ride owners loaded their huts and large individual parts onto trailers. Just a few meters away, many people continued to lay flowers, candles and cuddly toys in memory of the victims a week after the attack.
