NRW premier Wüst testifies before Solingen attack inquiry as opposition cries foul over last-minute scheduling

The hearing

North Rhine-Westphalia premier Hendrik Wüst (CDU) appears as a witness before the state parliament's committee of inquiry into the Solingen terrorist attack on Tuesday, with his testimony scheduled to begin around 15:00. Deputy premier Mona Neubaur (Greens) testifies first, starting at 14:00. State chancellery chief Nathanael Liminski is also summoned.

Opposition backlash

The SPD opposition has protested the short-notice scheduling of the witness appearances. The party argues the black-green governing majority is undermining a joint procedural agreement. The SPD has signalled it will summon Wüst again if important government documents arrive with the committee after his initial testimony.

Constitutional court date

The dispute over rejected opposition evidence requests in the Solingen committee will reach the North Rhine-Westphalia constitutional court on 30 June, when a ruling is expected.

The attack

On 23 August 2024, Syrian national Issa al Hasan killed three people with a knife and wounded many more at a town festival in Solingen. The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. Al Hasan should have been returned to Bulgaria under the EU Dublin rules a year earlier; one deportation attempt failed and no further attempt was made. The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court sentenced him to life imprisonment followed by preventive detention.

Political fallout

Refugee minister Josefine Paul (Greens) resigned in January during the committee's investigation. The opposition had accused her of disappearing after the attack and communicating only sluggishly.

The governing majority is torpedoing a joint agreement.