Horst Seehofer spoke of a "disgrace for Germany", the Chancellor was "depressed and shocked" and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for solidarity with the Jewish population: After the deadly attack in Halle, many politicians have expressed their sympathy. Secretary of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer also commented - however, her choice of words had a negative impact on many.
The CDU politician had already reported on Wednesday evening in the "Tagesspiegel". She was sad and angry because two people were killed senseless. "Such an attack on the highest Jewish holiday is an alarm signal that can leave no one in Germany untouched," said the Defense Minister also. For this formulation, she is now heavily criticized.
@ akk condemns the lethal shots from Halle and expresses its sympathy to the relatives. #Halle # Against Anti-Semitism #YomKippur pic.twitter.com/qooH1SQYnC
- CDU Germany (@CDU) October 9, 2019"An anti-Semitic attack is an assassination attempt and not an alarm signal," commented Green Party politician Volker Beck, for example, on Twitter. A Pirate Party tweet states, "Anyone who first recognizes a #Alarm sign will need to seriously wonder where he has been all those months and years before to overlook all the other alarm signs." Another user described the statement by Kramp-Karrenbauer as a "gigantic alarm sign".
An anti-Semitic assassination is an assassination and not an alarm sign. It's the emergency of anti-Semitism, 2 people are dead. It's about time you do not lie in the tables. Anti-Semitism has a place in our country & he kills. We have to go against that! @akk https://t.co/6VCFFo3Rqn
- Volker Beck (@Volker_Beck) October 9, 2019All in all, thousands of tweets can now be found under the hashtag #Alarmzeichen. In several of the users ask what the stop of Halle should be because an "alarm". The formulation is perceived by them as trivializing for the deed of Halle.
On Wednesday, a right-wing extremist tried to invade a synagogue in the city. His attempt failed, after which he shot dead two people in front of the synagogue and then in a nearby snack and injured at least two others. The perpetrator was arrested and identified as Stephan Balliet.
Investigators and the Federal Government assess the attack as a right-wing terrorist attack. "What we experienced yesterday was terror," said Attorney General Peter Frank. The perpetrator's goal is to cause a massacre in the synagogue and to achieve a worldwide effect. According to Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht, the 27-year-old shooter was a single offender with antisemitic and right-wing extremist motives.
According to Frank, a total of four kilos of explosives were secured in numerous explosive devices in the suspected offender's car. Alleged perpetrator Stephan Balliet is accused of double murder and attempted murder in nine cases. (Follow all developments in the news blog).