Rouven L. is dead cop was with him Knife attack by an Afghan Friday was so seriously injured in Mannheim that he did not survive the consequences of the attack. His office experienced an emotional moment shortly after the 29-year-old’s death was officially confirmed Facebook-Post published. The profile photo is gray because of the mourning for the comrade.
Mannheim Police: “We are deeply shocked”
The Mannheim police write it down Facebook : “We mourn our colleague – he gave his life to protect others! On Friday, our colleague from the Mannheim police station was seriously injured in a knife attack during a police operation. Today we received the sad news that he succumbed to his serious injuries in hospital. We are deeply shocked; the loss deeply affects us all and at the same time leaves us bewildered. The entire police family mourns his passing and their thoughts are with his family, friends and loved ones. He was a special person: calm and thoughtful in his actions and always with a friendly, open smile to everyone. We will never forget him!”
After a short time, hundreds of comments gathered under the post. The vast majority of people express their grief and condolences in short and emotional words. For example, Udo Haupt writes: “My sincere condolences to his family, but also to his colleagues and his circle of friends and acquaintances. What a tragic loss.”
Lots of sadness and thanks to all police officers
Some, in their expressions of grief, also remind people of the services police officers perform every day in Germany and how dangerous their work is. Ilona Maro, for example: “Our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues. We simply cannot thank you enough for your daily efforts to keep us all safe! We are very sorry that our colleague did not make it. We had hoped that it would turn out positively for him.”
Jenny Re also addresses all police officers in the country: “It’s unbelievable. Even for complete outsiders. Touched deeply. My deepest condolences to all family, friends and colleagues. Many thanks to all police officers like Rouven, who risk their lives every day for the rest of us in action.”
Alex Bensch sees it the same way and writes: “My sincere condolences to the family, relatives and colleagues. I would also like to thank all police and other rescue workers for their service and continued efforts. All of Germany loves the police!”
Boris Stefanie Kristo says: “My condolences. Thank you, Love Mannheim Police for risking your lives to protect us. Every day again. It’s a shame that it has gotten to the point where you have to read something like this here.”
Some also supplement their expressions of condolence with more or less hidden criticism of politics. Claudia Hensler, for example, writes with a lot of irony: “Just sad. My condolences and much strength to the family. Big thanks to the politicians.”
The background to this statement is probably the fact that the attacker is an Afghan who is said to have come to Germany as a refugee many years ago. Given this circumstance, there is a lot of anger on social media towards the politics and migration and refugee policies of recent years.
First fundraisers
Fundraising campaigns for the surviving relatives are already underway, for example Gofundme . There, colleagues from a police unit from Blumberg called for donations for Rouven L’s relatives. A few thousand euros have already been raised.