Riot in the St. Wendel outdoor pool: Police get loud, but stay silent!

Riot in the St. Wendel outdoor pool: Police get loud, but stay silent!

At the weekend, an incident in the outdoor swimming pool in St. Wendel caused a stir and led to the facility being closed early. On a day that was over 30 degrees Celsius, when the pool was busy, there was an argument between about 20 young people, mostly male, which was characterized by aggressive pushing and loud insults. The situation escalated so much that bathers, including many families, retreated while some girls burst into tears. The lifeguards were visibly overwhelmed because they couldn't get the situation under control and all the guests were on the lawn instead of at the edge of the pool. Despite the enormous police operation, which was carried out with two patrol cars, the St. Wendel police remained vague in their information and refused to provide any information about what was happening. More details will only be revealed after an internal review next Monday, which will cause irritation and incomprehension among citizens. The editorial team is calling on people to send in information with pictures or videos in order to find out more about the incident and be able to report on it.

Public reaction and security debate

These events highlight the current discussion about safety in outdoor swimming pools, which is taking place not only in St. Wendel, but also in other cities such as Berlin. The CDU leader Friedrich Merz is calling for more police presence in swimming pools, but this is rejected by the police union (GdP). The incident in Berlin's Columbiabade is often used as an example, where a fight also led to the pool being closed. Merz specifically demands that the police should issue and monitor evictions. While Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser supports his proposals, she also emphasizes that such security matters belong in the hands of the federal states.

It turns out that, according to the Ministry of the Interior there, the security situation in outdoor swimming pools in North Rhine-Westphalia is largely stable and calm. Differences in the safety concept between the federal states are clearly visible, and while outdoor pool operators have to take responsibility for ensuring that the house and bathing rules are enforced, experts recommend increased cooperation with the police and rescue services. Security personnel have the right to expel problematic people from the bathroom and detain them until the police arrive.

More news from the region

A “dm” company run will take place in Saarbrücken this week, which is why road closures are to be expected. Several thousand participants are expected, which could have a noticeable impact on the traffic situation. At the same time, there was a serious attack on a taxi driver in Saarbrücken, and the search for the perpetrator is already underway. In another incident, a 91-year-old Belgian man was found lost 100 kilometers in the Hunsrück.

The everyday challenges also include the recall of certain pet foods at Kaufland because plastic foreign bodies were found. In terms of traffic technology: From June 19th, regular gas checks will be mandatory for caravans and motorhomes in order to prevent potential dangers. Mobile speed cameras have also been announced for this Monday in Trier and the surrounding area.

The situation remains exciting and affects many areas of life. We will of course stay tuned and continue to follow developments.