Mayor under fire: Attacks on diversity festival in Bad Freienwalde!

Mayor under fire: Attacks on diversity festival in Bad Freienwalde!

The mood in Bad Freienwalde is tense after a violent attack on the diversity festival there. Around a dozen masked attackers caused chaos in the market square on Sunday afternoon when they attacked the peaceful family celebration with quartz gloves and striking tools. Two visitors were injured, which caused great concern among those present. The event not only shocked the local community but also caused political waves. RBB24 reports that some of the attackers come from the right-wing extremist scene and that the police are now investigating a group of 10-15 people on suspicion of a particularly serious breach of the peace.

In the midst of these dramatic events, Mayor Ralf Lehmann (CDU) is under massive pressure. He is accused of trivializing the incident as a mere “disturbance” without showing sympathy to those affected. In an interview with RBB television, he said: “We are waiting for the investigation” and questioned whether the media had exaggerated the incident. This led to an open letter from the “We’re tackling it” initiative, calling for more understanding and solidarity from the mayor. The association's spokeswoman, Lisa Clara Burger, sharply criticized Lehmann and stated that his behavior was negligent and dangerous.

Political reactions and challenges

The reactions to the attack are varied. Brandenburg Interior Minister René Wilke (independent) was horrified by the incidents and in his statements recalled the difficult times of the 1990s in Brandenburg. While he canceled another event at short notice in order to speak to the affected citizens and the police, Lehmann remained absent from the crime scene. Daily Mirror reports that other local politicians, such as Frank Vettel, who clearly distanced himself from the attack, also called for the attackers to be prosecuted.

Another picture is now emerging: Lehmann has already announced that he will not stand for re-election in the upcoming mayoral elections in September, and it is expected that Ulrike Heidemann (CDU) will be his successor. Heidemann expressed himself positively about the event and the organizers and seems to be relying on constructive cooperation.

Right-wing extremism in Brandenburg

The incident once again highlights the problem of right-wing extremism in Brandenburg. Numerous groups and organizations have repeatedly been in the spotlight, such as “Combat 18 Germany”, which was only banned by the Ministry of the Interior some time ago. Right-wing extremist sentiments repeatedly appear in public in various forms, which are loud Protection of the Constitution expressed through special characters and symbols. The situation in Bad Freienwalde is a worrying example of how deeply rooted such problems are in our society.

The question remains: How will this violence be dealt with? First of all, the police investigation is of great importance. The success of inter-communal dialogue between mayors, authorities and affected groups could be crucial for securing peace in the region. The case clearly shows that we must be on our guard and work together against such attacks.