Overview
- A 2.5‑metre bronze devil by artist Tim Bengel was unveiled in front of Esslingen’s town hall as a donation from a local Sektkellerei and draws on the city’s old 'Zwieblinger' legend.
- Public reaction is split and an online petition calling for the statue’s removal has gathered more than 5,600 signatures.
- Police say they are investigating a handful of cases of threats to life, insults and calls for property damage, including a concrete murder call against Mayor Matthias Klopfer.
- The regional criminal police inspectorate for state‑protection offences has joined the probe but officials report there is no suspect identified so far.
- City leaders insist the sculpture will remain in place, the Evangelical regional church says the figure does not threaten Christian belief, and the dispute has raised local concerns about safety, law enforcement and how the town represents its history.