Authorities face questions after Berlin CSD attack, Merz puts a new face in the Transport Ministry driving seat, two men die after plane crash in Lower Saxony, and more news from around Germany on Monday, July 27th.
Monday’s top story: German authorities face questions after CSD attack
German officials are facing growing calls for answers following a suspected Islamist attack on the sidelines of Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) celebrations and the subsequent death of the alleged perpetrator.
Questions have centred on why the suspect, Abdul B., remained at large despite being known to the authorities and having previously been convicted.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the man had committed numerous offences, expressed sympathy for terrorism and received a suspended sentence against which prosecutors had appealed.
“There is now a very serious question about how someone identified as a potential threat could be given a suspended sentence,” the CSU politician told public broadcaster ARD, adding that the matter would be investigated in detail.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner also questioned the city’s previous handling of the suspect, who had been sentenced under juvenile criminal law.
“I do not want to pass judgement – that is a matter for the independent judiciary – but I am at a loss for words,” the CDU politician told regional broadcaster RBB.
The suspect is believed to have been at the wheel of a minivan that drove into a crowd near the Christopher Street Day parade in central Berlin on Saturday evening. According to Dobrindt, he then attempted to attack passers-by with a machete. One woman died in the attack and 29 were injured.
He was later shot dead by police in Spandau.
READ ALSO: Suspect in deadly Pride attack shot dead by Berlin police
Merz replaces transport minister after ‘undignified’ delay
Following rumours in the German press, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has confirmed that Transport Minister Patrick Schneider (CDU) is set to leave his role.
He will be replaced by Stefan Bilger, the CDU’s former parliamentary secretary, who has long-standing expertise in the transport sector.
The 47-year-old sat on the parliamentary transport committee from 2009 to 2018 and subsequently served as Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport until 2021.
He has also received glowing praise from the Union for his leadership of his parliamentary group during the first 15 months of the CDU/SPD coalition.
Incoming German Transport Minister Stefan Bilgar (CDU) speaks outside of the party’s headquarters in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Michael Kappeler
While Bilger may be regarded as a good choice for the ministry, Merz has received scathing criticism for his handling of the cabinet reshuffle.
According to DPA, the Chancellor sacked Schneider on Thursday evening and had planned to replace him with MP Fritz Güntzler. However, Güntzler had second thoughts overnight and turned down the post on Friday morning.
Merz then failed to announce the switch during a general reshuffle of cabinet on Friday. With no further news over the weekend, Schneider himself requested to be dismissed to put an end what the “undignified situation”.
READ ALSO: Merz shuffles German government following high-level resignation
The rejigging of parliamentary posts was prompted by the resignation of parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn in July. Spahn resigned following a controversary over the birth of his son by surrogate – a practice that is illegal in Germany and heavily criticised by the CDU.
Two dead after plane crashes onto German house’s roof
Two men flying in a small private plane died Saturday when they crashed into the roof of a house in north-western Germany, police said.
The light aircraft came down in a residential area of Ganderkesee, near Oldenburg, striking the pitched roof of a house head-on.
Police had initially reported one of the occupants — men aged 65 and 77 from Bremen — had died and one was missing.
A crashed plane hangs in the roof of a residential house in Ganderkesee, Lower Saxony, following a fatal crash. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jörn Hüneke
But following “lengthy and complex recovery operations for the plane wreckage”, police determined that both men had lost their lives in the crash, the Delmenhorst police department stated.
The wreckage embedded in the roof was removed, and residents who had been evacuated were able to return to their homes.
Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
AfD plans to buy its own event venue in North Rhine-Westphalia
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is planning to buy a €3 million event venue in North Rhine-Westphalia after struggling to find operators willing to host its party gatherings.
The party has identified a potential property, according to a letter sent to members by state leader Martin Vincentz and treasurer Christian Blex. However, it has not disclosed the venue’s location.
The AfD hopes to raise €1 million through donations, with the remaining cost covered by its own funds and a loan from the national party, a spokesperson for the NRW branch told DPA.
Like other political parties, the AfD must hold regular meetings to conduct internal elections and select candidate lists. But the state branch said its search for suitable venues had proved difficult because many operators refused to rent space to the party. Its most recent events were held in a hall in Marl in North-Rhine Westphalia.
Party sources said owning a venue could also make financial sense in the long term.
With reporting by DPA and AFP