Germany’s knife attack fuels immigration debate ahead of elections

[KARAH RUCKER]

A DEADLY KNIFE ATTACK IN GERMANY HAS REIGNITED DEBATES OVER IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM LAWS JUST AHEAD OF KEY ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY— PUTTING PRESSURE ON POLITICAL LEADERS TO ACT SWIFTLY.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ IS VOWING TO TOUGHEN DEPORTATION LAWS AND CRACK DOWN ON KNIFE REGULATIONS AFTER THE FATAL ATTACK. A SYRIAN NATIONAL — SUSPECTED OF BEING AN ISLAMIC EXTREMIST — IS ACCUSED OF KILLING THREE PEOPLE AND WOUNDING EIGHT OTHERS DURING A LOCAL FESTIVAL. THE 26-YEAR-OLD TURNED HIMSELF IN TO POLICE A DAY AFTER THE ATTACK.

VISITING THE SCENE IN WESTERN GERMANY— SCHOLZ EXPRESSED HIS ANGER AND FRUSTRATION — CALLING IT AN ACT OF TERRORISM. HE STRESSED THE NEED FOR STRONGER MEASURES TO PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS — INCLUDING STEPPING UP THE DEPORTATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WHOSE ASYLUM APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN DENIED.

THE SUSPECT HAD HIS ASYLUM APPLICATION REJECTED AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEPORTED TO BULGARIA LAST YEAR — BUT AUTHORITIES LOST TRACK OF HIM. SCHOLZ ACKNOWLEDGED THIS FAILURE AND PROMISED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ENSURE MORE EFFICIENT DEPORTATIONS MOVING FORWARD.

SCHOLZ ALSO ANNOUNCED PLANS TO TIGHTEN KNIFE LAWS — REDUCING THE LEGAL BLADE SIZE ALLOWED IN PUBLIC FROM 5 INCHES TO 2-AND-A-HALF INCHES.

THE ATTACK HAS ADDED FUEL TO GERMANY’S ONGOING MIGRATION DEBATE — WITH FAR-RIGHT PARTIES USING THE INCIDENT TO PUSH THEIR ANTI-IMMIGRATION AGENDA AHEAD OF UPCOMING STATE ELECTIONS. ‘THE ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY’ PARTY — WHICH IS LEADING IN SEVERAL REGIONAL POLLS — HAS MADE THE ATTACK A KEY ISSUE IN ITS CAMPAIGN.

SCHOLZ’S GOVERNMENT IS FACING INCREASING PRESSURE TO ACT QUICKLY — ESPECIALLY WITH STATE ELECTIONS APPROACHING AND MIGRATION POLICIES UNDER SCRUTINY. ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT PASSED LEGISLATION IN JANUARY TO STREAMLINE DEPORTATIONS AND INTRODUCED LAWS TO DEPORT FOREIGNERS SUPPORTING TERRORISM.

CRITICS ARGUE THAT DESPITE PREVIOUS PROMISES — THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE PROGRESS IN TIGHTENING DEPORTATION RULES.

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