German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed his determination to strengthen knife laws and increase deportations of rejected asylum-seekers following a knife attack in Solingen, Germany, where a suspected Islamic extremist from Syria allegedly killed three people. Scholz, accompanied by regional officials, visited the scene of the attack and emphasized his frustration and anger over the incident.

The suspect, a 26-year-old individual with ties to the Islamic State group, had his asylum application denied and was supposed to be deported to Bulgaria last year but managed to evade authorities. This event has reignited criticism of the government’s handling of migration and deportation issues, prompting discussions on tightening laws and procedures.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has proposed limiting the blade size of knives carried in public to 6 centimeters, down from the current 12 centimeters. Scholz has highlighted the need for swift action in enhancing deportation measures and bolstering border controls to prevent irregular migration.

In response to another recent knife attack involving an Afghan immigrant in Mannheim, Scholz vowed to resume deportations of criminals from Afghanistan and Syria, despite existing challenges due to diplomatic constraints with Kabul and security concerns in Syria. Efforts are being made to facilitate deportations to neighboring countries and possibly to Syria in the future.

Critics have urged for more concrete steps to address these issues, emphasizing the importance of transforming commitments into tangible actions. The opposition parties have called for decisive measures to tackle immigration-related challenges, advocating for stricter border controls and the prevention of undesirable individuals from entering the country.

The Solingen incident has occurred just before state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, where the far-right Alternative for Germany party holds significant influence. The upcoming elections are expected to test the popularity of Scholz’s coalition parties amid growing concerns over security and migration policies.