Five years after the Halle attack: This is how the students felt

Five years after the Halle attack: This is how the students felt

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

In a town just a few hundred meters from the site where a right-wing extremist assassin shot two people five years ago, the situation quickly became a serious threat. Lothar Franke received a call on that fateful day that made him immediately close the cafeteria. “The students were informed more quickly through their cell phones,” explains Franke, describing the tense atmosphere as he locked the doors to protect the already unsettled young people.

The role of social media in the panic

As the cafeteria alarm situation unfolded, the mood was initially lighthearted. The students were enjoying their lunch break until news of the possible attack spread like wildfire. During this critical time, misinformation filtered into the cafeteria via social media, fueling additional fears. Students, like 29-year-old Lotti Brockmann, remembered the moment they fled to a safe room in the building and feared they would leave the room without authorization. “I didn’t know what would happen next,” she said, thinking back to that panic.

What was particularly alarming was the fact that rumors of several assassins in the city further increased the uncertainty. These rumors not only damaged the feeling of security in Halle itself, but also spread to Leipzig.

The cafeteria proved to be a place of refuge, with Franke ensuring that all students remained safe until the situation was resolved. “It was invaluable to provide that support,” he said, giving the survivors a voice. His concern was later greatly appreciated by the students who came together in the face of the threat.

Aftermath and gratitude

The dangers included not only the immediate threat but also the aftermath of the incident. The police's approach and the public discussion about right-wing extremist attacks came to a boil 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 humanity in times of uncertainty.

At the end of the day, when the young people were finally able to go home safely, a question arose that Franke, the caretaker at the time, asked himself: “What if the assassin had come into the cafeteria?” This type of reflection shows that despite the horror that has been overcome, the memory of the day and the lessons learned from such experiences are important even years later.

For further information on the background to what happened, see the current reporting on www.mz.de.