Attack in Mecklenburg
Esken attacks Merz after fire in refugee home – refugees “slandered as social tourists”
SPD leader Saskia Esken
© Fabian Sommer/dpa/archive image/DPA
Saskia Esken attacks conservative politicians after the fire in a refugee accommodation in Mecklenburg. With their rhetoric, they would prepare the ground for hatred, the SPD leader warned.
After the fire in a refugee accommodation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, SPD leader Saskia Esken accused conservative politicians of serving hatred against refugees and thus preparing the ground for such acts. Specifically, with a view to CDU leader Friedrich Merz, she told the “Rheinische Post” (Friday): “Anyone who, far from all facts, slanders war refugees as social tourists must ask themselves what part they have in the hatred and agitation that later leads to violence. “
Merz had apologized for his statement and described it as an “inaccurate description of a problem that can be observed in individual cases”.
In the fire on Wednesday evening, the former hotel in Groß Strömkendorf near Wismar, which housed 14 Ukrainian refugees, was almost completely destroyed. Nobody got hurt. The police assume arson and suspect a political background. State security is investigating.
Saskia Esken complains that the Conservatives are losing their level
Esken said of the suspected arson that it was shocking that not only “the right-wing extremist constitutional enemies of the AfD” served hatred against refugees. “Conservative politicians are also increasingly sinking to a populist level. Recent statements about the admission of people seeking protection in Germany are irresponsible – and they not only prepare the ground for social divisions, but ultimately also for such criminal acts.”
After the fire, witnesses are to be interviewed on Friday and samples from the fire site are to be examined in the laboratory. The first results of the investigation are not expected until the beginning of next week at the earliest, said the Vice President of the Rostock Police Headquarters, Michael Peters.
Vigil in Wismar this Friday after a fire in a refugee home
In the afternoon, a vigil is to take place on the Wismar market square, which the state government’s integration officer, Jana Michael, has called for. She is convinced that many people in Northwest Mecklenburg and across the country would resolutely oppose hate and hate speech, she said.
Numerous politicians had expressed their dismay at the fire on Thursday. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) announced that the rule of law would react with all means at its disposal if the suspicion of arson was confirmed.
State security is investigating, among other things, because two days before the fire there was a swastika daubed on the sign in front of the refugee accommodation. It will be determined in all directions, it said. This also includes an unexplained series of fires in the area. In the past few months, there had been at least six suspected arson attacks, according to a spokesman for the Northwest Mecklenburg district. Among other things, a carport, a straw rental and, most recently, on October 7th, an empty house in a neighboring town of Groß Strömkendorf were affected.
The Association of Towns and Municipalities emphasizes that there is still a great willingness to help
Despite the devastating fire and the criticism by SPD leader Esken of the rhetoric of some politicians towards people who migrate to Germany – the German Association of Towns and Municipalities continues to observe “a great willingness to help refugees, especially those displaced from Ukraine”. , as CEO Gerd Landsberg told the “Rheinische Post” (Friday). “However, it can be seen that fewer and fewer people are willing to take in displaced persons privately. However, we have not noticed an overall deterioration in the mood.”
Watch the video: Lev fled to Germany because he doesn’t want to fight and kill on Putin’s behalf. The 23-year-old has been in Düsseldorf for three weeks because he is afraid of being drafted into the war against Ukraine. In the interview he describes his escape and how he is doing now.