July 02, 2021, 7:05 am
Würzburg Three women are dead, several people injured: the knife attack in Würzburg shook Germany. There are still unanswered questions about the perpetrator. For example: could the authorities have acted earlier?
Almost exactly one week after the knife attack, the victims are remembered in Würzburg.
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On June 25, around 5 p.m., a 24-year-old Somali man entered a department store in downtown Würzburg. A little later, three women were dead and several people were injured, some of them life-threatening.
Almost exactly a week after the knife attack, people commemorate the victims in the city. A human chain to the town hall is planned. “We mourn the victims of this terrible knife attack and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” said the Würzburg Alliance for Democracy and Civil Courage, which organized the funeral event. Commemorative rallies from the left and right spectrum are also registered.
The human chain is intended to remember the victims, and the alliance said that they wanted to show solidarity with all the people in Würzburg who are now exposed to prejudice and agitation. The AfD has also registered an event. Actually, she wanted to lay a wreath right at the crime scenes, but the city of Würzburg decided on a different location on a nearby street. A memorial event from the left-wing scene is taking place at Bahnhofplatz, as announced by the city of Würzburg.
Investigations are in full swing
While there is mourning in the city, the investigations at the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) and the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office are still in full swing. For example, the motive is still unclear: is the 24-year-old an Islamist? Or mentally ill and possibly incompetent? State Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) said there were indications of an Islamist attack.
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The man comes from the civil war country Somalia and entered Germany on May 6, 2015. In Würzburg he was registered as an asylum seeker and most recently lived in a shelter for the homeless. One thing is certain: the 24-year-old had repeatedly shown mental health problems. He has been to psychiatric hospitals several times, according to a report in the Main-Post five times.
The focus shifts to the question of whether one could have suspected earlier that it could be dangerous. In four proceedings, the Würzburg District Court dealt with the provisional placement in a psychiatric ward or care – but this was not ordered in any of the cases. Once an institution treating the man even suggested that a supervisor be appointed. The court announced that there was insufficient evidence for such an order. The «Welt» had previously reported.
Even shortly before the offense, the court had him in view: After indications of a need for care due to mental disorders, an expert was entrusted with his assessment on June 23. Two days later, the 24-year-old committed the deeds.
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