Chemnitz Protest: Germany to Probe Leak Sparkling Mob Violence
Germany has launched a probe into who leaked the arrest warrant for an Iraqi murder suspect to far-right groups in Saxony's eastern city of Chemnitz. A fatal stabbing of a 35-year-old German-Cuban man on Sunday sparked days of violent and xenophobic protests. The unauthorised disclosure has increased concerns about possible links between police and anti-migrant groups. Meanwhile, local authorities called on the help of federal police, as they brace for fresh protests on Thursday.
Police have also opened 10 cases against far-right protesters who gave the illegal Hitler salute during the first day of unrest. A state official called the arrest warrant leak - most likely from a police or judicial source - a scandal.
"We have a bigger problem to deal with there," said Martin Dulig, the state of Saxony's deputy premier, to German media. The disclosure - which led to the warrant being published on far-right websites - is highly unusual in Germany, which has strict rules for judicial proceedings. Critics believe the warrant, with details of the number of stab wounds, may have been leaked to further incite anti-immigrant sentiments.
Saxony Interior Minister Roland Wöller said far-right activists had quickly travelled to Chemnitz not only from other parts of eastern Germany but also the capital Berlin and the western regions of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The protests have exposed deep divisions in German society over the influx of more than one million migrants, mostly Muslims fleeing Middle East conflicts, after Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision in 2015 to let them in. Nonetheless, right-wing groups such as the AfD - which entered parliament for the first time in 2017 with 12.6% of the vote and 94 seats - deplore Mrs Merkel's liberal immigration policy.
Police have also opened 10 cases against far-right protesters who gave the illegal Hitler salute during the first day of unrest. A state official called the arrest warrant leak - most likely from a police or judicial source - a scandal.
"We have a bigger problem to deal with there," said Martin Dulig, the state of Saxony's deputy premier, to German media. The disclosure - which led to the warrant being published on far-right websites - is highly unusual in Germany, which has strict rules for judicial proceedings. Critics believe the warrant, with details of the number of stab wounds, may have been leaked to further incite anti-immigrant sentiments.
Saxony Interior Minister Roland Wöller said far-right activists had quickly travelled to Chemnitz not only from other parts of eastern Germany but also the capital Berlin and the western regions of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The protests have exposed deep divisions in German society over the influx of more than one million migrants, mostly Muslims fleeing Middle East conflicts, after Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision in 2015 to let them in. Nonetheless, right-wing groups such as the AfD - which entered parliament for the first time in 2017 with 12.6% of the vote and 94 seats - deplore Mrs Merkel's liberal immigration policy.
Post a Comment