After 21 years, Burkhard Jung will not seek reelection as mayor of Leipzig next year. Shortly before the end of his term, he went through a particularly difficult time following the rampage in the trade fair district that left two people dead and many injured. “That caught me off guard. You can’t really be prepared for something like that,” the 68-year-old SPD politician said in an interview with the German Press Agency.
In such a situation, one can ensure that the emergency response team is functioning and that the fire department is well-prepared. “But you’re not prepared for the emotional toll the situation takes on you.” In any case, city centers cannot be made so secure that nothing can ever happen. “If you turn the city center into a fortress to protect against rampaging drivers, then something like this can still happen at a bus stop, an outdoor seating area, or a busy street,” emphasized the current president of the German Association of Cities.
On May 4, a 33-year-old man drove a car into a central shopping street in Leipzig. Two people died in the rampage—a 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man. Six others were injured. According to police reports, more than 80 people required assistance following the incident. The perpetrator was apprehended and initially admitted to a psychiatric hospital. He is under investigation for murder and attempted murder.
