On 31 May 2024 at 11:34 am, a man ambushed and stabbed several people at a rally hosted by the counter-jihad and anti-Islam group Citizens' Movement Pax Europa (BPE) in the market square in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He mortally wounded a police officer, who died two days later, and wounded five other people. The victims included the controversial activist Michael Stürzenberger, the main speaker at the rally. Six people were injured, including Stürzenberger and a police officer who was stabbed in the neck and died from his injuries two days later. The attack was stopped when the suspect was shot and injured by another police officer.[2][3] Investigators suspect that the suspect's motive was Islamist in nature.[4]
| 2024 Mannheim stabbing | |
|---|---|
 Location of the Marktplatz square in Mannheim | |
| Location | Mannheim, Germany |
| Coordinates | 49°29′23″N 8°28′02″E / 49.4898°N 8.4672°E |
| Date | 31 May 2024 11:34 am[1] (CEST; UTC+02:00) |
Attack type | Mass stabbing |
| Weapon | Knife |
| Deaths | 1 (police officer) |
| Injured | 6 (including the perpetrator) |
| Motive | Islamic extremism |
| Accused | Sulaiman Ataee |
Stabbing
editThe BPE rally was held in Mannheim's market square where Michael Stürzenberger was supposed to give a speech.[5] The incident started at around 11:34 am, while Stürzenberger prepared for the event. A third party happened to be livestreaming on YouTube at the time.[6] Footage from the event showed the suspect watching the scene for some time, before suddenly assaulting Stürzenberger when he was on his own. Two nearby BPE supporters were also stabbed when they attempted to intervene.[citation needed]
The attacker went after Stürzenberger again, wrestling him to the ground and stabbing him several times, before being quickly grappled and dragged away by bystanders. During the process, many people kept yelling "(put) the knife away!"[7]
A police officer, 29-year-old Rouven Laur,[8][9][10] threw one of the men that was helping subdue the attacker to the ground. Laur then turned away from the attacker and pinned down the man in blue by kneeling on him, allowing the attacker to run around Laur and stab him in the neck.[11] Another police officer then non-fatally shot the attacker.[12][13]
Victims
edit
According to Der Spiegel, the authorities assumed a total of seven people were injured, including the attacker and the police officer.[3] The nationalities and ages of all five injured civilians were shared by police in a press report; three were German citizens, one was a German Kazakh, and one was an Iraqi.[14]
Laur was placed in an induced coma[15][16] and underwent emergency surgery,[17] but succumbed to his injuries two days after the stabbing.[18][19] Stürzenberger was stabbed in the face, chest, and thigh[12] and underwent emergency surgery.[20] On 1 June 2024, Stürzenberger posted on his Telegram page that the chest stab wound narrowly missed his lungs while the thigh stab wound caused significant blood loss due to striking veins.[16]
Suspect
editThe main suspect in the stabbing was identified as a 25-year-old Afghan refugee named Sulaiman Ataee.[21] He was a former resident of Herat, and moved to Germany in 2013 as an unaccompanied minor. His application for asylum was denied in 2014, but he could not be deported due to being underage.[7] He lived in Heppenheim at the time of the attack, around 30 km from Mannheim.[22][23] He reportedly had a valid residence permit, married in 2019, and had two children.[24] German authorities had not flagged him as an extremist prior to the attack. According to Der Spiegel, investigators believe Islamist motives to be likely.[4][25] The Baden-Württemberg State Office of Criminal Investigation announced that he was given an arrest warrant for attempted murder, and his apartment was searched.[16]
Following the attack, Ataee had emergency surgery and was placed in an induced coma at Theresien Hospital for approximately two weeks. On 17 June, he was transferred into police custody, but as of 4 July, he has not been deemed capable of being interrogated. A federal court has charged Ataee with murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm.[26][27]
Aftermath
editThe event took place about a week before the 9 June 2024 European Parliament election, held in Germany in connection with some regional and local elections. Two days after the attack, a public statement released by the Mannheim Police Department and State Criminal Police Office of Baden-Württemberg mourned the death of the police officer who gave his life trying to control the situation and stop the violence.[28]
A public vigil was set up in the market square where the stabbing took place. At the same time, Young Alternative members set up an anti-immigration protest at the market square, which was met by counter-protesters that included members of Antifa organizations.[29]
On 3 June, a memorial service was held in Mannheim for the murdered police officer attended by around 8,000 people, featuring speeches from the dean of the Jesuit Church, Karl Jung, and imam of Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque Mustafa Aydinli.[30][31] In the meantime, a TikTok user known by the pseudonym "Imam Meti" who called for the murder of "all ex-Muslims and every critic of Islam" following the attack, was later identified as the 35-year-old Pristina-born Kosovar Muhamed R., according to a report by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.[32][33]
On June 5, local AfD council candidate politician Heinrich Koch was hospitalized with non-serious injuries after a stabbing in Mannheim.[34]
In the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin session of 6 June, when a speaker mentioned (with double meaning in German) "... the terrible death in/of Mannheim ...", Alliance 90/The Greens member Tuba Bozkurt joked "Mannheim is dead?", causing laughter among other members, according to the protocol.[35] Party leader Omid Nouripour and Bozkurt herself apologized.[36]
On 7 June, one week after the attack, the Baden-Württemberg state chapter of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) wanted to organize a memorial rally on the site of the attack.[37] Despite several other events having been held there since the attack, this was denied by the city, which claimed that from 4 until 16 June, only individual mourning was allowed there, as declared on a sign.[38] After an appeal, a higher court upheld the ban.[39] The AfD had to move to a different square, Paradeplatz.[40]
Reactions
editGerman chancellor Olaf Scholz said on X that the footage was "terrible", that such acts of violence were "absolutely unacceptable", and that "[t]he perpetrator must be severely punished".[41] He later stated that action was needed against extremist political violence from those who tried to restrict the democratic space for discussion, regardless of their political or religious orientation.[29]
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that it was up to investigators to determine a motive, adding that "if the investigation shows an Islamist motive, that would be another confirmation of the great danger from Islamist acts of violence that we have warned of."[42]
North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul stated that stronger measures for controlling the possession and violent use of knives with greater focus on security policy, stronger punishments, and education about their dangers were required.[43]
Green Party politician Konstantin von Notz and FDP vice-chairman Konstantin Kuhle both condemned anyone who glorified the act of violence, with the latter stating that anyone who publicly celebrated the stabbing should face immediate and severe criminal proceedings, and that Muslim associations needed to make clear statements denouncing the use and glorification of violence to prevent future attacks.[29]
On 30 August 2024, a deportation flight with 28 Afghans, all male criminals, left Berlin for Afghanistan, the first such flight since the Taliban had taken power in the country in 2021. A German government spokesperson said the same day that "intensive efforts" had been made since the Mannheim stabbing in order to deport migrants who have committed serious crimes back to Afghanistan and Syria.[44] Earlier after the stabbing, chancellor Scholz had announced that deportations to those two countries would be possible again in the case of the most dangerous criminals and terror suspects.[45]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ @PolizeiMannheim (5 June 2024). "Schweigeminute #FürRouven. Zum Gedenken an unseren getöteten Kollegen #Rouven wird die Polizei BW am Freitag, 7. Juni 2024, um 11:34 Uhr, landesweit eine Schweigeminute durchführen. Die gesamte Bevölkerung ist eingeladen, sich an der Schweigeminute zu beteiligen. #einervonuns" [Minute of silence #ForRouven. In memory of our killed colleague #Rouven, the BW police will observe a minute of silence nationwide on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 11:34 am. The entire population is invited to take part in the minute of silence. #oneofus] (Tweet) (in German). Retrieved 6 June 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Several people injured in stabbing in Mannheim, Germany, police say". NBC News. Associated Press. 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Rechtspopulistische »Bürgerbewegung Pax Europa«: Wer sind die Opfer der Attacke von Mannheim?" [Right-wing populist “Citizens’ Movement Pax Europa”: Who are the victims of the Mannheim attack?]. Der Spiegel (in German). 31 May 2024. ISSN 2195-1349. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Ermittler halten islamistisches Motiv für wahrscheinlich" [Investigators believe Islamist motive is likely]. Der Spiegel (in German). 31 May 2024. ISSN 2195-1349. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Kundgebung - Mannheim" [Rally - Mannheim]. Bürgerbewegung PAX EUROPA e.V. (in German). Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Burrell, Miriam; Quadri, Sami (31 May 2024). "Knifeman stabs at least two people in Germany on YouTube livestream". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Über den Angreifer von Mannheim werden neue Details bekannt" [New details emerge about the Mannheim attacker]. Berliner Morgenpost (in German). 4 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ Kessel, Wolfgang (7 June 2024). "Nach Messerangriff in Mannheim: Schweigeminute und Tag des Gedenkens für getöteten Polizisten" [After knife attack in Mannheim: Minute of silence and day of remembrance for killed police officer]. Südwestrundfunk (in German). Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Nach Messerangriff auf Polizisten: Schweigeminute und Tag des Gedenkens in Mannheim" [After knife attack on police officers: minute of silence and day of remembrance in Mannheim]. Tagesschau (in German). 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Wütend, traurig, ratlos – wie der Tod von Rouven Laur Mannheim erschüttert" [Angry, sad, helpless – how the death of Rouven Laur shocks Mannheim]. Schwäbische Post (in German). 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Mannheim knife attack: Policeman, anti-Islam activist injured in stabbing". news.com.au. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ a b Fowler, Sarah (31 May 2024). "Mannheim knife attack: Anti-Islam activist injured in stabbing". BBC News. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Germany knife attack: Man shot after stabbing police officer in frenzied attack at far-right event in Mannheim". Sky News. 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "POL-MA: Gemeinsame Pressemitteilung der Staatsanwaltschaft Karlsruhe, des Präsidiums Mannheim und des LKA - Haftbefehlserlass nach Messerangriff auf dem Mannheimer Marktplatz am 31. Mai 2024" [POL-MA: Joint press release from the Karlsruhe Public Prosecutor's Office, the Mannheim Presidium and the LKA - Arrest warrant issued following knife attack on Mannheim's market square on May 31, 2024]. Presseportal (in German). 1 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Mannheim knife attack: Police officer in serious condition". DW. 1 June 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Stürzenberger meldet sich nach Ärztevisite aus Klinik: "War richtig knapp gestern"" [Stürzenberger reports from clinic after doctor's visit: “It was really close yesterday”]. Focus (in German). 1 June 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "German police officer dies of wounds suffered in knife attack". Associated Press. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Mannheim: Polizist stirbt nach Messerangriff auf Marktplatz" [Mannheim: Police officer dies after knife attack on market square]. Der Spiegel (in German). 2 June 2024. ISSN 2195-1349. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "German police officer injured in Mannheim knife attack dies". DW. 2 June 2024.
- ^ Hollauf, Franz (31 May 2024). "Police say several people have been hurt in a stabbing in the German city of Mannheim". Kronen Zeitung. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Treza Albuquerque, Jenel (3 June 2024). "Mannheim, Germany Stabbing Suspect: What We Know So Far". Times Now World. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Mehrere Verletzte nach Messerangriff" [Several injured after knife attack]. Tagesschau (in German). 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Messerattacke auf Mannheimer Marktplatz: Angreifer verletzt sechs Menschen" [Knife attack on Mannheim market square: Attacker injures six people]. Mannheimer Morgan (in German). 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Prengel, Sebastian; Gärtner, Kolja; Rosar, Andreas (1 June 2024). "Messer-Angreifer von Mannheim: Attentäter wohnte im 9. Stock mit Frau und Kindern" [Mannheim knife attacker: Assassin lived on the 9th floor with wife and children]. Bild (in German). Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Golitschek, Niklas (3 June 2024). "Immer mehr Details über Mannheimer Messerstecher: "Hat sich in letzter Zeit verändert"". Focus (in German).
- ^ "Nach Tötung von Polizisten: Mannheim-Täter soll offenbar außer Lebensgefahr sein" [After killing police officers: Mannheim perpetrator apparently out of danger]. T-Online (in German). 15 June 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ Winterbauer, Stefan; Kiefer, Peter (4 July 2024). "Aus Klinik entlassen – Mannheimer Marktplatz-Messerstecher in Haft" [Transferred from hospital – Mannheim market square knife attacker in custody]. Mannheim24 (in German). Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "LKA-BW: Pressemitteilung der Staatsanwaltschaft Karlsruhe, des Präsidiums Mannheim und des LKA - Polizeibeamter erliegt den Verletzungen des Messerangriffs vom Mannheimer Marktplatz vom 31. Mai 2024" [LKA-BW: Press release from the Karlsruhe Public Prosecutor's Office, the Mannheim Presidium and the LKA - Police officer succumbs to injuries from the knife attack on Mannheim's market square on May 31, 2024]. Presseportal (in German). 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Felten, Uwe (2 June 2024). "Attacke am Marktplatz in Mannheim: Bei Messerangriff verletzter Polizist gestorben" [Attack on the market square in Mannheim: Police officer injured in knife attack dies]. RP ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Gedenkfeier für ermordeten Polizisten: Als Imam für Rouven L. betet, sind die 8000 Teilnehmer emotional ergriffen" [Memorial service for murdered police officer: When Imam prays for Rouven L., the 8000 participants are emotionally moved]. Focus (in German). 3 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ ""Religiöse Motivation der Tat": Bundesanwaltschaft übernimmt Ermittlungen nach Messerattacke in Mannheim" [“Religious motivation of the crime”: Federal Prosecutor’s Office takes over investigation after knife attack in Mannheim]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 3 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Hanfeld, Michael (4 June 2024). "Wie der Mord von Mannheim im Netz gefeiert wird" [How the Mannheim murder is being celebrated online]. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Mordaufruf auf TikTok – Behörden identifizieren Urheber von Hetzvideo" [Call for murder on TikTok – authorities identify creator of hate video]. Die Welt (in German). 6 June 2024. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Connolly, Kate (5 June 2024). "Far-right AfD party candidate stabbed in Mannheim". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Debionne, Philippe (6 June 2024). "Im Video: Grünen-Politikerin witzelt über Polizisten-Mord von Mannheim" [In the video: Green politician jokes about the police murder in Mannheim]. Schwäbische Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Bozkurt, Tuba [@TubaBozkurt] (6 June 2024). "Ich möchte für meinen Zwischenruf im Abgeordnetenhaus um Entschuldigung bitten. Er war pietätlos und unanständig und ich bereue ihn zutiefst. Die Angehörigen, Freund:innen und Kolleg:innen von Rouven L., die ich damit verletzt habe, bitte ich aufrichtig um Entschuldigung" [I would like to apologize for my interjection in the House of Representatives. It was disrespectful and indecent and I deeply regret it. I sincerely apologize to the relatives, friends and colleagues of Rouven L. whom I have hurt with it.] (Tweet) (in German). Retrieved 10 June 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Degen, Ninja (7 June 2024). "AfD und Gegendemo treffen in Mannheim aufeinander: keine größeren Zwischenfälle" [AfD and counter-demonstration meet in Mannheim: no major incidents]. Südwestrundfunk (in German). Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Mannheim erklärt Marktplatz zu Gedenkort" [Mannheim declares market square a memorial site]. Mannheim.de (in German). 4 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Court Upholds Ban on AfD Mobilization in Mannheim Marketplace". aussiedlerbote.de. 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Gedenken in Mannheim nach Messerattacke – AfD-Kundgebung trifft auf Gegendemonstranten" [Commemoration in Mannheim after knife attack – AfD rally meets counter-demonstrators]. RP Online (in German). 7 June 2024.
- ^ Scholz, Olaf [@Bundeskanzler] (31 May 2024). "Die Bilder aus Mannheim sind furchtbar. Mehrere Personen sind von einem Attentäter schwer verletzt worden. Meine Gedanken sind bei den Opfern. Gewalt ist absolut inakzeptabel in unserer Demokratie. Der Täter muss streng bestraft werden" [The images from Mannheim are terrible. Several people were seriously injured by an attacker. My thoughts are with the victims. Violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy. The perpetrator must be severely punished.] (Tweet) (in German). Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Police say several people have been hurt in a stabbing in the German city of Mannheim". CTV News. Associated Press. 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Angriff in Mannheim: "Jetzt muss auch der Letzte kapieren, dass wir Messerkriminalität ernst nehmen müssen"" [Attack in Mannheim: “Now even the last person must understand that we have to take knife crime seriously”]. Die Welt (in German). 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ Tanno, Sophie; Otto, Claudia (30 August 2024). "Germany deports 28 Afghans after unveiling new security package". CNN News. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Deportation flight leaves Germany for Afghanistan". Deutsche Welle. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.