crime
CDU politician Kiesewetter attacked in Aalen during election campaign
The CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter was slightly injured by a man. Photo
© Monika Skolimowska/dpa
Once again a politician is attacked. CDU member of the Bundestag Roderich Kiesewetter is slightly injured. The suspected perpetrator is known to him and the police.
The alleged perpetrator fled. The police measures are still ongoing, the spokesman said. However, the man is known to the police. The “Schwäbische Post” was the first to report on this. According to the newspaper, the man is a candidate for the Aalen local council from a party close to the lateral thinkers movement.
The incident occurred at around 9:15 a.m. on the market square in Aalen, police said. The suspected perpetrator is 55 years old. “Nothing is known about the background to the attack,” the statement continued.
Kiesewetter told the “Schwäbische Post” that he had been verbally attacked. Then he had been jostled. “I didn’t know who the person was. When I told him to stop, he tore the roof of the campaign stand with him.” He then wanted to take a picture of the man and went after him. “When he saw that, he hit me and pushed me into a raised bed and also inflicted abrasions on me.” Shortly afterwards, the police came and he offered to drop the complaint if the person in question apologized.” Now, CDU security expert Kiesewetter says he wants to wait and see whether the police can get the man to apologize.
Politicians from other parties show solidarity
A cross-party alliance called for a vigil on Sunday afternoon. The initiators want to form a human chain in the city center under the motto “Solidarity against violence, hatred and incitement.” Numerous politicians also showed their solidarity with Kiesewetter. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser wished him a speedy recovery. “Violence is never acceptable in our democracy and must be punished quickly and harshly,” wrote the SPD politician on the X platform.
Green Party leader Ricarda Lang, who represents the neighboring constituency of Schwäbisch Gmünd, explained to X: “If one of us is attacked, we all stand together as democrats!” Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) also announced on the platform: “The sad reality is that hardly a day goes by in this election campaign without reports of attacks on people who are committed to democracy. But the fact remains: violence must never win.” Both politicians wished Kiesewetter a speedy recovery.