Hanau attack: Germans on the street against far-right terrorism

Text by: Pascal Thibaut Follow

After the shooting which killed nine people on Wednesday evening in Hanau near Frankfurt in Germany, Germany is in shock. This killing by a racially motivated man further underscores the danger of the far right in Germany. Many demonstrations took place Thursday evening across the country and of course in the city hit by the attacks.

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From our special correspondent in Hanau,

" Nazis raus ", the Nazis outside: the enemy is clear for the 5,000 or so demonstrators gathered in the central square of Hanau. They came, and among them many foreigners, to pay tribute to the victims and show their solidarity with their loved ones.

“ We are a city, we are united. Of course, it doesn't bring the victims back to life and it doesn't really console their loved ones. But they see that we are there and it's a good thing for all of us, ”explains a young woman.

This is also the message that the officials who took the floor wanted to convey, starting with the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. " We are united, we want to live together and we show it again and again: it is the strongest remedy against hatred, " he said.

Repeated far-right attacks worry

The speech of the President of the Republic was disturbed by demonstrators who criticized the ineffectiveness of the State in the fight against the extreme right. " We have seen in recent months that far-right violence is increasing, that the government is not doing much against it. It has to change, ”laments a young Turk present in the crowd.

" For me who lives in Hanau, this drama has shown once again that far-right terrorism can strike anywhere in Germany and I have the impression that the authorities are not sufficiently effective," says another young man visibly. very touched. Such attacks are happening more and more often. It is really too frequent and it makes me very sad because it is not the company I want. I don't want people who freak out and kill themselves . ”

Even if the emotion prevailed among the crowd this Thursday evening, the repetition of the attacks of extreme right or the threats which it inspires worries more and more in Germany.

We were deeply shocked and horrified by this bloody act, because this double attack is also an attack on our democracy and our united society. The Kurdish community in Germany is not only waiting for explanations about what really happened from the authorities and the police. It also wishes to be consulted in an attempt to find together ways to strengthen democratic society.

Cahit Basar, Secretary General of the Association of the Kurdish Community of Germany

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• Germany
• Terrorism
• Racism

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