According to Tagesschau, a vehicle drove through a pedestrian zone in Leipzig, allegedly killing two people and seriously injuring at least two others. Initial findings indicate the suspect has been taken to a psychiatric clinic. The affected shopping street has since been reopened to traffic, Tagesschau reports.
There is widespread sympathy across the city. People are laying flowers at central sites such as the façade of the Paulinum at Leipzig University; the downtown churches of St. Nikolai and St. Thomas are open all day for mourning and remembrance. Condolence books are available at the town hall and at Nikolaikirche, Tagesschau says.
The city administration announced it will reconsider its security concept. Mayor Burkhard Jung (Social Democratic Party, SPD) told Tagesschau that Grimmaische Straße cannot remain open to vehicles permanently; initial measures are to be implemented the same day as the report. At the same time, Jung emphasized that the city centre should not become a fortress and must remain a place for social interaction and meeting, Tagesschau notes.
Saxony’s Michael Kretschmer (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) said, according to the report, that there remains a certain helplessness in fully protecting the public from attacks carried out by people with mental illness. Event management expert Thomas Sakschewski pointed out to Tagesschau that fully safeguarding public spaces would require disproportionate structural measures and access controls.
Crisis intervention teams in Leipzig remain deployed with several teams and are available to those affected. Heike Stellmacher of the crisis intervention team advised, according to Tagesschau, that people should not withdraw but instead speak with qualified personnel. Clergy and crisis intervention staff are available in the city centre for conversations, the report adds.
In response to the attack, the public broadcaster Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) made short-term programming changes: the show “Fakt ist!” devoted an episode to the topic and brought viewers, eyewitnesses and Mayor Burkhard Jung into the civic discussion, Tagesschau reports. Overall, the debate about safe inner cities has resumed following the vehicle attack; the city of Leipzig is now systematically reviewing access routes and other protective measures, Tagesschau says.
Source: Tagesschau
