For the first time since German police officer Rouven L. was stabbed to death by an Afghan Islamist who had been living in Germany for eight years illegally, the family of the victim is speaking out, with multiple interviews with the mother and sisters featured on a documentary from German public media station Südwestrundfunk (SWR).
In fact, the sister of Rouven L. said that her brother knew the dangers of policing the event in Mannheim, which was hosted by the anti-Islam group Pax Europa, and even made a number of comments predicting exactly what would come to pass.
Rouven L.’s sister spoke with him the day before the police operation, where he told her he had read about Pax Europa extensively beforehand, which is led by German political activist Michael Stürzenberger, who was the first targeted by the Afghan Sulaiman Ataee, who stabbed Stürzenberger, multiple times. While Rouven L. was no supporter of the movement, he told his sister that the event could pose a significant danger and that riots could be expected, saying that “the young Arab men have a very short fuse” and “are quick to use a knife.”
The sister also noted that her brother said that he knew Stürzenberger and his movement deliberately provoked the highly temperamental Arab men in order to provoke public disorder from their side.
“Something has to change”
However, SWR also interviewed the mother, who said because of the nature of the murder of her son, which was committed by an Afghan migrant, it highlights that “perhaps” Germany’s migration policy needs to be reconsidered.
“It was important to me that people are aware that something is not right here in Germany,” she said. “Something has to change.”
In the hospital, the family enjoyed one last small comfort and were allowed to “be with Rouven the whole time” until his death. His sisters stayed by his side the entire time.
A total of five members and aids to the Pax Europa group were attacked in Mannheim, with some of them seriously injured. The main target, however, was Stürzberger, who was stabbed several times in his face, chest, and legs, and required emergency surgery.
Rouvan L. heroically tried to intervene to stop Ataee but ended up being stabbed in the neck.
German crime statistics reveal that foreigners are responsible for an overwhelming number of violent crimes in Germany. A record amount of violent crime was recorded in 2023, with foreigners also responsible for a record share of these crimes. The data shows that they are committing 6 in 10 violent crimes in the country and 41 percent of overall crime.
At the same time, surging knife crime also continues to highlight their growing role in public insecurity.