The German government announced on Thursday that it will tighten laws concerning the carrying of bladed weapons and the provision of aid to certain asylum seekers following a deadly attack in Solingen six days ago.
During a press conference in Berlin, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser expressed the government’s shock at the Solingen attack, stating, “The Solingen attack shocked us deeply, and the government is responding with stricter measures.”
The attack, which left three people dead, has put pressure on the three-party coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, consisting of the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Liberals.
The incident has also come just days before regional elections in eastern Germany, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is expected to gain significant support.
Among the new measures, the German government will ban the carrying of bladed weapons, particularly during festivals, fairs, and on long-distance transportation such as trains and buses.
Additionally, Faeser announced that aid will be cut for asylum seekers who entered another European Union country before coming to Germany.
Faeser also mentioned that the government is working quickly to facilitate the deportation of dangerous criminals to countries like Afghanistan and Syria.
The AfD party is likely to capitalize on the knife attack, which occurred last Friday during a festival in Solingen, to gain support in the upcoming elections in Saxony and Thuringia. The attack has reignited debates over immigration and public safety in Germany.
Germany has seen several attacks in recent years. The deadliest occurred in December 2016 when 12 people were killed by a truck driven into a Christmas market in central Berlin. In the Solingen attack, which took place at a festival attended by thousands, two men aged 56 and 67, and a 56-year-old woman were killed, and eight others were injured, four of them critically.
The suspected attacker, a 26-year-old Syrian man with alleged ties to the terrorist organization ISIS, surrendered to authorities after a 24-hour manhunt, claiming responsibility for the attack.
