Political violence will not be tolerated in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday, as police responded to demonstrations in the western city of Mannheim after seven people were injured in knife attacks.
“Whether it is violence directed against left-wing, centrist or right-wing democratic politicians, it is always unacceptable and will not be tolerated by us,” the chancellor said as he addressed an economic forum in the eastern German city of Bad Saarow, southern Africa. east of Berlin.
“We will act against all those who try to use violence to restrict democratic space,” he added, regardless of whether the violence is motivated by left-wing radicalism, right-wing extremism or Islamism.
Scholz warned all perpetrators of political violence. “Don’t underestimate us. We are a democratic state. We will not tolerate it and will act against you with all the options provided by the law,” he said.
Scholz referred to renewed cases of political violence in Germany in recent days, including an attack on a lawmaker at an election stand in the southern city of Aalen on Saturday.
The Chancellor also highlighted on Friday the attack in Mannheim, which was carried out by the anti-Islamic group Pax Europa by a 25-year-old born in Afghanistan. Scholz noted that a police officer, one of seven people injured in the attack, remains in critical condition.
Meanwhile, there were violent scenes in Mannheim on Sunday as police responded to two demonstrations held after the attacks.
Activists formed a human chain at a vigil organized by an impartial alliance under the motto: “Solidarity against violence, hatred and agitation.”
The vigil, backed by a range of political parties represented in the city council, emerged in response to a planned meeting of the youth wing of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
The slogan of the youth protest was: “Remigration would have prevented this crime!” The concept of remigration – in which large numbers of people of foreign origin are deported – has been widely criticized across Germany.
Video from the square showed police clashing with a group of Antifa activists who were setting off fireworks. The slogan ‘Nazis out’ was also chanted by the demonstrators.
