Sixfold murder in Stade: SPD migration representative Kurku steps down
Deniz Kurku has resigned as Lower Saxony's state migration commissioner after his mother-in-law was identified as the driver of the getaway vehicle.
Resignation following death threats: Kurku gives up migration post
The Lower Saxony state commissioner for migration and participation, Deniz Kurku (SPD), has resigned from his post with immediate effect. According to Google News LU DE, citing Der Spiegel, the 44-year-old justified this step with "massive hostility and threats" as well as the "spread of false claims in parts of public reporting and so-called social media".
According to Kurku, he can no longer carry out the duties of the honorary position "under the given conditions to the required extent". The background to his withdrawal is directly linked to the sixfold murder in Stade: his mother-in-law, Sylvia S., was identified as the driver of the alleged perpetrator's getaway vehicle and was arrested by police.
The bloodshed in Stade and the mother-in-law's role
At the end of June, Turkish national Fatih G., who was subject to deportation, shot six people at a mother-and-child home in Stade. According to investigations so far, the motive is believed to be a personal vendetta: the perpetrator had previously had custody of his daughter revoked after he allegedly abused and seriously injured the child by shaking. After his arrest, Fatih G. took his own life in pre-trial detention.
Sylvia S., Kurku's mother-in-law, is said to have driven the shooter's vehicle. She remains under investigation. The public prosecutor's office has so far seen no strong evidence of a crime; her exact role remains unclear.
No substantiated links between Kurku and the perpetrator
In parts of the public sphere and on social media, Kurku was repeatedly linked to the crime, particularly through reports by the portal "Nius". However, no verifiable evidence was provided that Kurku knew of the perpetrator's plans or knew him personally.
WELT asked the Stade public prosecutor's office to verify details allegedly from the investigation files published by "Nius" — including an alleged video said to show Fatih G. and Sylvia S. together. Confirmation was not forthcoming despite multiple requests, including references to ongoing investigations.
Kurku's lawyer told WELT that "Mr Kurku neither knew nor knows Mr Fatih G. or his family". The migration commissioner was also not involved in the custody dispute.
Interior committee addressed the case
Kurku is a member of the Lower Saxony state parliament's interior committee. This had addressed the Stade case on Thursday, with interior minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) to provide new details. Kurku himself did not participate on grounds of conflict of interest.
CDU interior politician André Bock subsequently criticised the lack of clarification: "Although various authorities dealt with him and individual information about him was available, this was not brought together into a complete picture in time." Bock also criticised the fact that it remained unclear from which financial means Fatih G. had supported himself. "He apparently did not receive state benefits," said Bock. Interior minister Behrens had essentially relied on ongoing investigations and presented hardly any new findings — more than two months after the crime, that was "too little".
Minister president Lies condemns hostility
Lower Saxony's minister president Olaf Lies (SPD) praised Kurku's decision. The resignation deserved "recognition and respect," Lies is quoted as saying by Der Spiegel. At the same time, he condemned the treatment of the SPD politician in the strongest terms: "The degrading comments, the spread of conspiracy speculation, the hostility up to and including death threats against Deniz Kurku are completely unacceptable."
Investigations into the exact background to the bloodshed are ongoing.
Source: Google News LU DE