German Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, has expressed strong criticism towards the Bavarian authorities following the fatal machete attack in Aschaffenburg, and has shown an openness to discussing the issue, including the possibility of the federal government taking a more active role in deportations. “We certainly need to know from the Bavarian authorities why the perpetrator was still at large, despite having a history of violent behavior and being known for his erratic behavior” Faeser stated in the ZDF’s “Heute-Journal”.
Legislative changes have been made in the past to address the issue, Faeser noted. “We have introduced the right to detain for deportation, extended the period of detention for deportation, but you are right, it needs to work in practice” she said. “The states are responsible for deportations on the ground. We have found that we have too few detention places for deportation and, yes, we have execution deficits.”
When asked if the federal government would take over deportations, Faeser replied, “We are examining whether it would be more sensible to shift the responsibility for deportation to other authorities. I cannot give a definitive answer at this time. Normally, one would say that it is simpler when one is closer to the issue, but we will have to take a closer look.”
The fatal machete attack in Aschaffenburg, which occurred on Wednesday, resulted in the deaths of a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man. The suspect, a 28-year-old man with Afghan citizenship, was reportedly out of compliance with his deportation obligations, according to Bavaria’s Interior Minister, Herrmann.