Five years after the hall stop: this is how the students felt

Five years after the hall stop: this is how the students felt

Halle (Saale)-A shocking event shaped the Harz Mensa in the heart of Halle when former caretaker Lothar Franke remembers the afternoon of October in 2019. That day it wasn't just an ordinary Wednesday. Suddenly rumors were circulating about an armed man who shot people, which led to panicking reactions among the students. They no longer felt safe in the cafeteria and refused to leave the building.

in a place that is just a few hundred meters from the site, where a right -wing extremist shot two people five years ago, the situation quickly developed into a serious threat. On this fateful day, Lothar Franke received a call that made him close the cafeteria immediately. "The students were informed faster through their cell phones," explains Franke, describing the tense atmosphere when he locked the doors to protect the already unsettled young people.

The role of social media in panic

While the Mensa alarm situation developed, the mood was initially carefree. The students enjoyed their lunch break until the news of the possible assassination was spread like a running fire. In this critical time, false information came into the cafeteria about social media, which stoked additional fears. Students, like the 29-year-old Lotti Brockmann, remembered the moment when they fled and feared to leave the room unauthorized. "I didn't know what would happen next," she said when she thought back to this panic.

The cafeteria turned out to be a place of refuge, with Franke ensuring that all students remained safe until the situation was clarified. "It was priceless to offer this support," he gave the survivors a voice. His care was later appreciated by the students, who came together in view of the threat.

aftermath and gratitude

Not only the immediate threat, but also the aftermath of the incident joined the dangers. The police approach and the public discussion about right -wing extremist attacks were cooked again. Franke remembered how grateful the students were when the situation was defused a few hours later: "Many came to me the next day and said thank you." These gestures of appreciation reflect the importance of human in times of uncertainty.

At the end of the day, when the young people could finally go home safely, a question arose in the room that the then caretaker Franke asked himself: "What if the assassin had come into the canteen here?" This type of reflection shows that despite the underlying terror, the memory of the day and the teachings that are drawn from such experiences are also important years later.

For further information on the background of the action, See the current report on www.mz.de .