Germany announced a package of strict security and asylum measures

The German government on Thursday announced a package of tough security and asylum measures after a fatal knife attack by an individual linked to Islamic State, which sparked opposition from the far right and criticism of the ruling coalition’s migration policy.

Three people were killed and eight injured in the attack last Friday, which took place during a festival to mark the 650th anniversary of the founding of Solingen.

The incident heightened a political row over asylum and deportation rules because the suspect was a Syrian asylum seeker who had not been deported by the government.

The response comes days before elections in two eastern states where the anti-immigration party AfD is leading in the polls, putting further pressure on the ruling coalition at federal level to take a harder line on the issue.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s proposal to discuss solutions, but the government rejected some of his proposals, such as declaring a state of emergency or banning Syrians and Afghans from entering Germany.

The package, which is expected to be voted on by the lower and upper houses of the German parliament, includes stricter gun regulations and ownership rules, a ban on carrying knives at public events such as folk festivals and sporting events, Reuters reports.