Shocking anniversaries: from the killing spree to the pope election

Shocking anniversaries: from the killing spree to the pope election

Nova Scotia, Kanada - Today, on April 19, 2025, we look at significant historical events, birthdays and deaths associated with this date. Among the memorable events in history, Canada experienced a bad killing spree on April 19, 2020, in which a 51-year-old dentist killed 22 people, which is considered the worst bloody deed in Canadian crime history. The perpetrator was shot by the police. Another significant event happened in 2010: The Lower Saxony Minister Aygül Özkan was appointed the first minister with a migration background in Germany.

Today the world also remembers April 19, 2005 when Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope and the name Benedict XVI. accepted - the first German Pope in 480 years. In addition, on April 19, 1995, the United States experienced a devastating bomb attack on an office building in Oklahoma City with 168 deaths and over 500 injured; The main perpetrator, Timothy Mcveigh, was executed in 2001. Finally, the American War of Independence began on April 19, 1775 with the battles at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.

birthdays and deaths

The Swiss architect Jacques Herzog celebrates his 75th birthday on today's date. The television presenter Frank Elstner and German actor Claus Theo Gärtner were both born in 1943 and also celebrated their birthday today, while Ajatollah Ali Chamenei, who was born in 1939, turned 86. Among the late personalities, Konrad Adenauer, the first Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, is one of the best known on today's date; He died in 1967. The founder of the theory of evolution, Charles Darwin, died on April 19, 1882.

In connection with the current political situation in Germany, there are also many discussions. The Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) addressed the 2023 crime statistics and emphasized that Germany was one of the safest countries in the world, despite an increase in crimes recorded by 5.5 percent compared to the previous year. The BKA boss Holger Münch recorded that around 5.94 million crimes were recorded, the theft remains the most common crime.

role of immigration

However, the increase in violent crime, robbery and assault is also discussed in connection with a strong immigration. Faeser pointed out that a high proportion of suspects came from abroad. Statistically, the proportion of non-German suspects in 2023 was around 34 percent. In doing so, she referred to social and educational policy factors as important risk factors for crime.

The CDU and FDP require better equipment from the police and legally secure investigative instruments, while the Greens warn of the focus of the focus of the focus of the crime on migration and demand a precise analysis of violent crime. In the current debate, the role of the first Turkish-German minister Özkan, the previous political decisions are increasingly criticized and which is exposed to the lack of success in their integration policy of harsh criticism. Spiegel .

For detailed statistics and further information on crime development in Germany, please visit rnd and Ostsee Zeitung .