Apparent car attack in Germany: what is the fallout?
A man drove his car into the crowd at a demonstration organised by the German trade union ver.di in Munich on Thursday, injuring at least thirty people. The suspect, a 24-year-old Afghan who has both residence and work permits, has been arrested. Commentators voice concern about the situation in Germany ahead of the federal elections and discuss causes.
Bloody crimes now a common occurrence
German governments are incapable of effective action to control irregular migration, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung criticises:
“The Germans are getting used to terror. They're getting used to the trail of blood that runs through the country, and also to the repeated ritual of politicians expressing their horror and then warning against a divided society. Tougher measures are discussed, this leads to controversy, and finally the left warns of a 'shift to the right'. In other words, bloodshed like that in Munich has become an everyday occurrence. Nothing highlights the failure of German governments to stem irregular migration since 2015 as much as this fact.”
Drop the eloquent speeches, please
This crime is another consequence of Germany's irresponsible migration policy, says the editor of Welt, Ulf Poschardt:
“It can't go on like this. No society, no matter how open, can withstand it. Now illegal migration must be stopped with the severest measures, comprehensive deportations and the abolition of the individual right to asylum. ... No more oratory and no more show deportations of a few dozen people just before elections, and above all no more unsavoury, self-righteous demonstrations 'against the right'. It's all just cynical. Or does the Chancellor want to make himself the court jester of migration policy?”
No simple answers
Any racist instrumentalisation of the incident is inappropriate, writes the taz:
“What is appropriate, however, is to keep our attention on the victims for longer than a flash news report. ... It is appropriate to grieve with them and bring the perpetrator to justice. It is appropriate to put thought into how security can be guaranteed in an environment where the danger of attacks is increasing. And it is appropriate to demand precision rather than contribute to the convoluted racist debates on migration and security. Because no matter what promises are made, there are no simple answers.”
Opposition leader could benefit
The Munich attack could play into CDU/CSU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz's hands, The Spectator surmises:
“The drip-drip-drip of apparent terror attacks has only added to the looming sense of a country adrift. ... His planned crackdown on asylum seems likely to appeal in light of the latest incident. Government figures' claims that they are reforming the system ring hollow when it is under their watch that these attacks keep happening. Many voters think a system which allows people who have been refused asylum - and then go on to commit attacks - to remain in Germany is simply untenable.”
Berlin can no longer carry the burden
Germany's current approach to refugees is dysfunctional, Seznam Zprávy comments:
“A large proportion of the asylum seekers who have committed murders in Germany were to be deported not to their countries of origin but to other European states [the first EU country of arrival]. To those in which, according to European rules, their asylum procedure should take place. But these countries are openly snubbing the Germans. ... Now we can expect a domino effect, with one border after another closing. ... But nothing could be more destructive to the continent than the unaddressed frustration of the inhabitants of its most powerful state. A frustration that is already driving record numbers of Germans into the arms of extremist swindlers.”