After three people were murdered in Solingen by a Syrian Islamists, along with eight other injured, including four seriously, it has been revealed that at least the murder victims were “liberal-minded” and at least one of them belonged to a pro-migrant organization.
Given that the murders happened at the Festival of Diversity, it is no surprise that many of the victims belong to left-leaning organizations dedicated to progressive topics, such as an openness to refugees. These organizations promoted “peaceful coexistence” with other peoples and cultures, according to Germany’s Focus Magazine.
The alleged attacker, identified as 26-year-old Islamist Issa Al H., was supposed to have been deported in 2022 but was instead given protected status after he went into hiding for six months.
Among those killed in the attack was Ines W., whose husband was also seriously injured. She was a pharmacist and a member of the OTV canoeists, who had campaigned for integration with foreigners. According to German newspaper Rheinische Post, she was attending the Festival of Diversity because it was “very important to her.” Members of the pro-migrant club have reportedly met to “mourn together.”
Also among those killed was 67-year-old Stefan S. who worked at the Oetelshofen lime works in Wuppertal, with employees saying they were “deeply affected by the loss of their long-time colleague.”
He was described as “a liberal, educated person, someone who wanted to understand all sides. For a cosmopolitan person like him, it was only logical to visit the ‘Festival of Diversity’ in Solingen,” according to the Rheinische Post.
Managing director Till Iseke wrote for the victim’s obituary: “Dear Stefan, you were both a colleague and a friend to us and a person who thought outside the box and lived by values such as openness and tolerance. The fact that you were fatally injured in a vile attack at a peaceful festival leaves us stunned, angry and sad.”
Regarding the third victim, Florian H., he lived in Düsseldorf and worked in Solingen, but there has been little information released about him. However, neighbors said he was a “rock-and-roll” guy who had a ponytail and liked to play guitar.
Among the injured were members of the Solingen cultural association Cobra, including board members. The association is not political but organizes live events and concerts in the city.
“We are still shocked by the events of Friday evening. We feel deep sadness for the dead and great sympathy for their relatives,” the group wrote on Facebook. The cultural association did not want to comment further.
Many of the victims are currently on the road to recovery, according to officials, even though they initially suffered serious injuries during the attack.