The alleged Islamist attack in Solingen occurred less than a week ago. Now, the federal government is responding with concrete measures.
As a consequence of the deadly knife attack in Solingen, the German government has agreed on new measures to protect against Islamist terror, curb irregular migration, and tighten gun laws. This information was obtained by the German Press Agency from government sources.
Government to cut benefits for certain asylum seekers
The German government has agreed to cut benefits for specific asylum seekers. This measure targets migrants for whom another European state would be responsible and has agreed to take them back. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) announced this on Thursday afternoon in Berlin. She spoke of “far-reaching” and “tough measures” during the presentation.
For asylum seekers who fall under the Dublin Regulation, which assigns responsibility to another EU state, “the continuation of benefits in Germany shall be excluded,” according to a seven-page document obtained by Reuters news agency. “We will ensure a humane treatment for all affected.”
Expansion of knife bans
Additionally, numerous tightening measures are planned in gun laws, including a “general prohibition on handling dangerous switchblades.” A general knife ban is also planned for long-distance bus and train travel, as well as at public events such as fairs, sports events, trade shows, exhibitions, markets, and similar gatherings. Faeser explained that the attack in Solingen was a “despicable act with knives,” and therefore, gun laws will be tightened.
The requirements for obtaining a gun license will be raised to ensure that extremists do not have access to weapons and explosives.
The powers of security authorities in the fight against Islamism will be expanded, and the use of the association ban against Islamist organizations will be further applied.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) described the measures as a sensible and useful package to improve the security situation in Germany and to implement an even stricter realpolitik approach to migration.
Alleged perpetrator should have been deported
In the alleged Islamist attack in Solingen, an attacker killed three people with a knife and injured eight others at a city festival on Friday evening. The suspected perpetrator is 26-year-old Syrian Issa Al H., who is in custody. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office is investigating him, among other charges, for murder and suspicion of membership in the terrorist group Islamic State (IS). The IS claimed responsibility for the attack. The alleged perpetrator was supposed to be deported to Bulgaria last year, but this failed.
Already last weekend, the German government began putting together a package of measures in response to the attack. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also announced talks with the states and the Union, the largest opposition force, on Wednesday. A working group, comprising representatives from all three traffic light coalition parties, is scheduled to meet for the first time next week.
