Overview

• A 28-year-old Afghan refugee killed two people, including a child, in Aschaffenburg, with authorities confirming his history of mental illness and prior police encounters.
• The attack has intensified political calls for stricter asylum laws, with CDU leader Friedrich Merz proposing a five-point plan and promising immediate border controls if elected Chancellor.
• Experts highlight systemic failures in addressing mental health issues among refugees, with only 4% of affected individuals receiving adequate care despite widespread trauma in this population.
• The tragedy has drawn comparisons to similar incidents involving mentally ill refugees in Germany, exposing gaps in psychiatric care and risk assessment protocols.
• The political fallout includes heated debates on potential collaboration between the CDU and AfD, raising concerns over the erosion of the 'Brandmauer' separating mainstream parties from the far-right.