house of integration
Authorities injured with knife – arrest
In the Wuppertal House of Integration, an official was seriously injured with a knife. photo
© Claudia Otte/dpa
The employee of a Wuppertal authority is injured with a knife. Colleagues hold the alleged perpetrator until the police arrive. The mayor speaks of a terrible attack.
In the Wuppertal House of Integration, an employee of the immigration office was seriously injured with a knife. The city of Wuppertal reported a knife attack on an employee in the municipal facility, who was injured. Colleagues arrested the alleged perpetrator and held him until the police arrived.
A motive for the alleged perpetrator is not known, the city said, referring to the ongoing police investigation. According to the city, the House of Integration connects institutions that look after immigrants and refugees in Wuppertal.
According to the police, the officers arrested a 20-year-old suspect. For the time being, the police did not provide any further information about the person or the course of the crime. According to her information, the 25-year-old employee of the authority is seriously injured and there is no danger to life. Paramedics took her to a hospital. In fact, a knife was used. Investigators said the suspect was a 20-year-old Syrian. A police spokesman said he was expected to appear before a magistrate on Friday.
Thanks to the colleagues
“I am very affected by this terrible attack,” said Wuppertal’s Mayor Uwe Schneidewind (Greens) and wished the injured all the best for their recovery process. “My great thanks and respect go to the colleagues who courageously intervened and overpowered the perpetrator without considering any possible danger to themselves. We will now do everything we can to ensure that all colleagues in the House of Integration receive the best possible support in the long term,” explained the mayor.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) told the dpa: “I am dismayed by the brutal knife attack on the city employee in Wuppertal. People who work in public service for the public good should not have to go to work in fear . I wish the victim a speedy recovery.” After the crime on Thursday, the Wuppertal police are looking for further witnesses as well as possible photos and videos and refer to a information portal of the state police: https://nrw.zettelportal.de/.
Service is scheduled to resume on Friday
According to the city, the House of Integration was initially closed on Thursday. Normal service will not resume there on Friday either. Ambulance workers provided psychological support to workers. “This is a shock for all employees. Our thoughts are with the colleague, we send her the best wishes for recovery,” explained Stefan Kühn, Social Affairs Director in Wuppertal.
The German Association of Civil Servants North Rhine-Westphalia condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms and demanded recommendations for action from the black-green state government for the municipalities. “Attacks on public service employees are now rampant. Politicians can no longer take responsibility for this. The protection of public service employees is a priority for supervisors and must therefore really become a top priority,” said state chairman Roland Staude.
The Komba union NRW also sees an urgent need for political action. “Violence against employees must not only be present in the minds of politicians again when such a terrible attack happens. We have been demanding a comprehensive security and protection concept for years and it is long overdue,” said state chairman Andreas Hemsing. “We are deeply shocked and appalled by the knife attack on a municipal employee in Wuppertal. Our thoughts are with the colleague and the employees of the office,” he emphasized.