After the Magdeburg attack, which has so far claimed five lives, SPD chief Lars Klingbeil is calling for a thorough investigation of the crime and consequences for possible mistakes.
“If there were any errors, there should be no ideological blockages to prevent learning from them for the future” Klingbeil told the Tagesspiegel (Tuesday edition). “Now, it’s about uncovering all the backgrounds and details of the perpetrator.”
The security authorities are doing their job, Klingbeil said. “It must be clarified whether and, if so, what mistakes were made. The perpetrator must face the consequences for their heinous actions.”
The perpetrator did not fit a typical profile, Klingbeil said, as he had expressed anti-Islamic views and shared right-wing ideologies. “Identifying weaknesses is part of the investigation” the SPD chief said, adding that only then can demands be made, “not the other way around.”
The brutal attack, just days before Christmas, has “deeply shaken us all” Klingbeil said. The anger and pain over the loss of life in the attack still linger. “We’re still worried about the many injured and their families, hoping that they can be discharged from the hospitals soon” Klingbeil said.
Now, it’s crucial that “we as a country come together after such shocking events. That we show each other comfort, solidarity with the victims, and gratitude for the helpers.” One should “not allow the wrong people to instrumentalize this crime for their purposes” Klingbeil said.