Police operation
State security investigates after attack on Green Party politician in Essen
Green politician Rolf Fliß was attacked in Essen.
© Kerstin Kokoska / Imago Images
Bundestag member Kai Gehring and Rolf Fliß, third mayor of the city of Essen, are insulted on the way home after a party event. Fliß is also attacked.
The Green Bundestag member Kai Gehring and his party colleague Rolf Fliß said they were attacked in Essen after a party event. Gehring announced on his Facebook page on Friday evening: “Yesterday evening, what was typical for us, accidental and initially friendly civil conversation, suddenly developed into nasty insults against both of us and a spontaneous physical attack against Rolf Fliß.”
The incident occurred on the way home after a joint Green Party event. Fliß is the third mayor of the city of Essen and deputy chairman of the city council. Gehring then wrote on Facebook that Fliß was doing well. According to the Essen police, the local politician was hit in the face and was slightly injured. The two suspects then fled in a taxi towards the city center.
Attack on Green Party politician: Police investigate politically motivated act
State security is investigating. The police statement said it could have been a politically motivated act. The search for the suspects has so far been unsuccessful. The investigators are looking for witnesses.
Gehring wrote on Facebook: “For us it was and is incomprehensible and shocking that an apparently random encounter with a friendly address turned into an attack without any reason and we are very happy that no physical damage was sustained. The shock remains, because at this moment “We couldn’t expect an attack.”
The hostility against politicians is increasing, explained Gehring. “We will not allow ourselves to be intimidated, because we need people who are committed to our community.” The district manager of the Green Party in Essen confirmed the attack, which was first reported by “Spiegel”, when asked by the dpa.