As of: February 20, 2024, 1:53 p.m
Comments
Press
Split
Swastikas and the inscription “Victory” are smeared on the constituency office of Thuringia's state parliament president Birgit Pommer (Left).
© -/The Left Thuringia/dpa
Windows of constituency offices are smashed, swastikas are emblazoned elsewhere.
And one family narrowly escapes disaster.
Several attacks against politicians are causing concern in Thuringia.
Waltershausen/Bleicherode - Stone throwing, swastikas and a fire: The attacks on a residential building and several constituency offices, some of them prominent Thuringian politicians, have caused concern.
“Violence and destruction are not protest.
They are directed against our democracy - and against people,” said State Parliament President Birgit Pommer (Left) on Tuesday.
Swastikas were daubed on her constituency office in Bleicherode.
According to the police, a fire was set on the house of a local SPD politician in Waltershausen near Eisenach.
The windows of several SPD offices in Suhl had previously been broken - including that of the Bundestag member and biathlon Olympic champion Frank Ullrich.
The SPD local politician Michael Müller, whose house, according to the police, was set on fire on Monday night, told the German Press Agency: “I don't know who it was.
There were no specific threats against me, I have no enemies.” According to Müller, he is deputy chairman of the SPD local association and the state party council.
He is very committed in Waltershausen, including organizing a demonstration against right-wing extremism at the beginning of February.
Politician: Arson attack endangers human lives
The police are investigating serious arson in all directions, Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) told the dpa.
Fire accelerant was also found on site.
“We cannot rule out a political motive, but it has to be taken into account.” It is particularly worrying that such an attack would result in the death of people.
“This is a dimension that we have never had before.” With a view to further attacks on politicians, Maier said: “There is currently a blurring of boundaries that is remarkable.”
Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter): “An outrageous act of brutal use of force.
Arson means causing the death of people or condoning it." The Vice President of the Bundestag, Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Greens), who comes from Thuringia, told the Germany editorial network: "This arson attack has endangered human lives." Attacks like this are also attacks on democracy.
“They are intended to intimidate and prevent people from participating in politics.”
SPD local politician: “Of course that scares me”
The house is his home, but he also rents it out when he is on the road, Müller continued.
On the night in question, a family with a baby was staying in the house.
“Luckily they noticed the fire quickly.
It's a wooden house, a few minutes later there would have been a complete fire.” Now the facade and the host family's car were damaged.
The police estimated the property damage at 13,000 euros.
Müller assumed significantly more.
“Of course that scares me,” said Müller.
“I built the house with my own hands, my children grew up in it.” It is absurd that he travels partly through Afghanistan but is now afraid to lie in his own bed.
“I just need time to process this now.”
Left suspects neo-Nazis are behind the graffiti
On Monday, unknown people also daubed the constituency office of State Parliament President Birgit Pommer with swastikas.
The state security agency is investigating, the police said.
Accordingly, the red paint was applied to the office on Monday afternoon.
The perpetrators may have been disturbed because a slogan was not completed.
A photo shows the word “Victory” on the shop window.
My news
Verdi: Collective bargaining in local transport canceled read
Opposition: No delay for payment cards for refugees
Two MPs want to vote against the Democracy Promotion Act
57 mins ago
Criminal police investigate after fire at politicianlesen's house
No more citizen's benefit for newly arriving Ukraine refugees
Pensioner hands over several thousand euros to telephone fraudsters
The co-chair of the Left regional association, Ulrike Grosse-Röthig, told the German Press Agency: “The attack on Birgit Pommer’s office clearly came from neo-Nazis.
They obviously feel that they are on the rise thanks to public propaganda and agitation.” Violence should not be a means of political debate.
The CDU parliamentary group leader in the Thuringian state parliament, Mario Voigt, explained the events: “Despite all the frustration, such vile attacks are not justified by anything.” If political engagement, especially in local volunteer work, is omitted out of fear of such attacks, it has an impact on society as a whole.
In Suhl, unknown perpetrators broke windows at the SPD constituency and party office on Sunday evening, the police said.
The SPD member of the Bundestag Frank Ullrich wrote on Facebook: “If political protest is practiced like this, then a limit has been crossed.” He and his team are always ready for personal discussions, “but for me this form of aggressiveness is a sign of weakness “.
dpa