The Hanau Attack was a racist and far-right terrorist attack that took place on February 19, 2020, in the city of Hanau, located in the Hessen state of Germany. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office classified the incident as a terrorist act. In the attack, nine people lost their lives, including four Turkish citizens, while six others were injured.

_{People gather to commemorate the victims of a racist terrorist attack in Hanau, Germany, February 20, 2020 - Anadolu Agency}

The perpetrator, Tobias Rathjen, killed his mother after the attack and then committed suicide. The incident was interpreted as a consequence of the rising far-right and xenophobic tendencies in Germany.

Attack Timeline

On the night of February 19, 2020, around 10:00 PM, Tobias Rathjen opened fire at a hookah lounge called "Midnight Shisha Bar" in downtown Hanau, killing four people. He then drove 2.5 kilometers to another venue, "Arena Bar & Café," where he killed five more people.

After the attack, German security forces launched a large-scale operation, initially suspecting the involvement of multiple assailants. However, after analyzing surveillance footage and witness statements, it was determined that the attack was carried out by a single individual. Police raided the suspect's residence, where they found Tobias Rathjen and his mother dead. Investigations revealed that Rathjen had killed his mother before committing suicide.

The Perpetrator

The attacker, Tobias Rathjen, was a 43-year-old German citizen. He legally owned a firearm license and a hunting permit. Authorities discovered that Rathjen had published a 24-page manifesto online, in which he expressed racist and far-right views and used hostile language against specific communities. Before the attack, he had also shared far-right conspiracy theories through YouTube and his personal website, addressing intelligence agencies in some of his messages.

Officials stated that claims about the perpetrator's psychological illness might have been an attempt to downplay the attack. They concluded that Rathjen was influenced by racist ideologies and acted in accordance with far-right beliefs.

_{An image of Tobias Rathjen, who carried out the attack, taken from a YouTube video - Sky News}

Victims

The victims of the attack were between 21 and 44 years old, with backgrounds including Turkish, Bosnian, and Polish origins. The Turkish Ambassador to Berlin confirmed that four Turkish citizens were among the deceased. A total of six people were injured, including one person critically.

Reaction of the German Media

The German media's coverage of the attack sparked controversy. Some outlets referred to the incident as "Shisha-Morde" (Hookah Murders), which led to misconceptions that the attack was related to gang or mafia conflicts. This caused discomfort and backlash within immigrant communities.

However, after the racist manifesto was revealed, the attack was widely recognized as a far-right terrorist act. Consequently, the media's narrative shifted, and the incident began to be described as a "racist terror attack."

Political and Legal Reactions in Germany

The Hanau attack reignited discussions about the far-right terror threat in Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the attack, stating:

"Racism is poison, and hatred is poison. This poison exists in our society."

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier attended a memorial ceremony in Hanau, emphasizing the importance of social unity. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) labeled the incident as a far-right terrorist act and urged the government to take stronger measures against far-right organizations.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced that security measures across the country, particularly for mosques, would be strengthened. Opposition parties highlighted that the attack was a result of the growing far-right threat in Europe, calling on the government to implement stricter policies.

Meanwhile, the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) avoided directly labeling the attack as a racist act. SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil accused AfD of fueling extremism and suggested that the party should be monitored by intelligence agencies.

Hanau Attack and the Far-Right Threat

The Hanau attack became one of the latest incidents in a series of far-right terrorist attacks in Germany. It further highlighted the growing threat of far-right extremism, following incidents such as:

• The 2019 assassination of Walter Lübcke (a pro-immigration politician),
• The 2019 Halle synagogue attack,
• The NSU (National Socialist Underground) murders.

These events have underscored the increasing dangers posed by far-right terrorism in Germany.