After the knife attack: Würzburg mourns – Bavaria

White roses and blue delphinium are in the wreath of the Prime Minister, red and yellow roses in that of the Lord Mayor. Markus Söder and Christian Schuchardt park them on Sunday at Barbarossaplatz, in front of the Woolworth department store, which became a crime scene on Friday evening. A 24-year-old man stabbed three women there and injured seven other people, some seriously. Würzburg mourns.

The victims are commemorated on Sunday, first at the scene of the crime, then at a large memorial service in Kilians Cathedral. It is not far from Barbarossaplatz to the cathedral, the attack took place in the middle of the city. Candles are now burning to commemorate the victims, and countless people have brought flowers. 170 people are invited to the cathedral, much less space than usual in the bright church due to the pandemic. Prime Minister Söder and State Parliament President Ilse Aigner have arrived, as have their predecessor Barbara Stamm, who herself comes from Würzburg, as well as Josef Schuster, the chairman of the Central Council of Jews. Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann is there, who had already made a picture of the situation the day before, representatives of the police, rescue services, fire brigade. And representatives of various religious communities, including delegates from a group from Somalia. The Catholic house of God provides the roof for all religions on Sunday, it is about what is common, not what divides.

At the beginning of the celebration, Lord Mayor Christian Schuchardt addressed the relatives of the dead and injured who were sitting in the side aisles of Kilians Cathedral, protected from view. “I don’t know which are the right words to address to you,” says Schuchardt. “Those who give consolation, answer or give hope after less than 48 hours.” He offers help, also very personally, “we are there for you, no matter what you need”.

The mayor quotes from the letter that he had already addressed to the citizens of his city the previous evening. “I cried last night,” he wrote. Schuchardt impressively finds the right words, full of empathy for the victims and respect for the rescuers and those courageous people who opposed the perpetrator. Schuchardt mentions the parallel that immediately becomes apparent: almost exactly five years ago, a young refugee from Pakistan attacked several people on a regional train near Würzburg and injured them with an ax. Schuchardt warns against equating the incidents: “Refugees, immigrants, violent criminals, religious warriors and terrorists – massacres.” The crimes of individuals can never be traced back to population groups, religions or nationalities. He raises the “moral demand” that the pigeonhole thinking should come to an end.

“Incredible, appalling, senseless,” is how Prime Minister Söder calls the attack. The question of why now moves many people, why these women, why this act. There are many questions but no reasonable answers. “The only thing we can do today is to show that we put all our hearts into it,” says Söder, addressing the relatives. A lot still needs to be talked about the background to the crime, and consequences may have to be drawn – but Söder also warns against clichés and prejudices. “We must never answer such a hateful act with hatred or vengeance.” Prudence is now required. The attacker had a migrant background, but Söder emphasized that there were also people with a migrant background among the helpers. It is “encouraging” that courageous citizens had opposed the assassin with brooms and chairs. The speakers are united by the fact that they do not want to raise hatred of refugees and people of other origins.

“On days like these, we Würzburgers all have to come closer together,” says Ahmut Bastürk as a representative of the Muslim communities. He appeals to the urban community to support the relatives. “A bouquet of flowers is not enough.” Bastürk quotes the Koran: “If someone kills a person, it is as if he had killed all people. If someone saves a life, it is as if he had saved all people.”

It is rather unusual for the representative of the Jews to speak in a Christian church, says Josef Schuster, the chairman of the Central Council of Jews. But that is not important at this moment. Right now every attempt to divide society must be resisted. He also praised the civil courage of the helpers, which is a hopeful sign and strengthens urban society.

“You pushed me out of peace; I forgot what happiness is.” In his address at the celebration, Würzburg’s Bishop Franz Jung quotes the prophet Jeremiah, who began a lament for the destroyed city of Jerusalem 2500 years ago, but the words also hit the pain of the Würzburg people. The attack “made us aware of how fragile our apparent normality is”. The irrational in particular is frightening, says Jung, since there is no explanation for such an act. It shakes trust in other people, trust in a stable order – and ultimately trust in God. But his mercy is not over, the bishop preaches. The terrible horror of these days should also be understood as an invitation not to give up the dream of a holy city, as it is described in the Revelation of John. “It is the city in which violence is not answered with violence. The city in which fear does not turn into aggression. The city in which despair does not lead to hatred.”

The evangelical regional bishop Gisela Bornowski refers to the apostle Paulus: “One bear the burden of the other, and you will fulfill the law of Christ.” It is an inhuman burden that those affected and their relatives now have to bear. And last but not least, people with a migration background now feel a great burden, out of shock at the crime, but also out of concern about possible hostility. She calls on people to stand together. Rescue workers represent the intercessions – for victims, helpers and people with a migration background.