Ticker in Chemnitz: Far from the press, Angela Merkel talks about the riots

In Chemnitz, peace has slowly returned – but Chancellor Merkel's visit is open to discussion. Three months have pbaded since the violent death of a German of immigrant origin in Chemnitz – apparently by asylum seekers. All developments in the news ticker of FOCUS Online.

• Angela Merkel goes to Chemnitz Friday – and asks citizens questions (from 16h)
• In September there were riots just there
• FOCUS online journalist Thomas Hauser on the spot

4:16 p.m.: Richter connects and approaches the parades right in the city. Merkel speaks of the "terrible murder" that took place in Chemnitz. She could understand the people who shook this act – and those who gradually lost their sense of security. The Chancellor emphasizes that politics is the duty here. "We do not care."

4:14 p.m.: Merkel said that she wanted to "make a small contribution" to Chemnitz's "not being definitely in a bad light." "It was important for me to talk with the citizens – but in an atmosphere that makes it possible." The Chancellor receives applause.

4:11 p.m.: One of the Merkel The conversation partner is Dirk Richter, a former East German swimmer. He says that since the riots "the city has managed to rest". The Minister-President of Saxony, Mr Kretschmer, sits in the audience. Richter wants to know why the Chancellor visits him in Chemnitz.

4:09 p.m.: It begins. Merkel arrived on the podium. The moderator of the event said: "I hope it will be a critical and fair talk". The Chancellor is happy and "curious".

3:54 p.m.: At 4 pm, Merkel wants to answer the questions of readers of the "Freie Presse". The Chancellor will be delayed by about 10 minutes, they say.

Basketball player: "It's good that she's here"

3:00 p.m.: The chancellor gives herself close to the people and talks with the basketball players after her visit to the gym, closed to the press. Two of the boys, Dominic Tittmann (age 15) and Robert Marmai (age 17), describe their impressions to the press representatives present. It's a great honor that the Chancellor took the time to come here, said Dominic. His teammate, Robert, also sees that the Chancellor's visit was a "unique and brilliant experience": "It's good that she's there." The two men said that they had been able to ask the Chancellor about their daily lives and that they had also talked about the refugees and the events of the month of August. According to Robert, the Chancellor said that photos of Chemnitz who had been around the world were scary. The city was not at all like it was in August, according to Robert.

Chancellor meets basketball player – Demo of "Pro Chemnitz" expected

1:40 p.m.: "Although Merkel was greeted with violent hostility in her previous appearances in Saxony, she gives the first stop in her visit a sovereign sense of sovereignty," reports FOCUS online journalist Thomas Hauser of Chemnitz. The chancellor was not available for a statement in the gym.

13h00: Merkel met with young basketball players at the start of their visit to Chemnitz on Friday. The head of government attended the training of U16 and U19 teams of Second Division Niners Chemnitz at Richard-Hartmann-Halle. Accompanied by a large contingent of media, she exchanged a few words with the players, coaches and club officials and explained the details of the work of the junior staff.

The occasion of their visit was a murderous knife attack against a German three months ago, followed by xenophobic demonstrations and attacks in the city. Merkel occupies for the second time after 2009 the functions of Chancellor Federal in Chemnitz.

After the training with the young athletes, a conversation with the citizens was on the program. Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) and Chemnitz Mayor Barbara Ludwig (SPD) are also expected to attend.

After that, the outgoing CDU President wants to ask questions to the readers of the daily "Freie Presse", on the invitation of which she came to Chemnitz. Merkel's critics and their policies on asylum and refugees had called for protests outside the events. The police are in action with a large contingent.

About 17 hours is a demonstration of the good organization "Pro Chemnitz" under the motto "Merkel must leave" expected.

Merkel visited Chemnitz – Discussion on late date

Friday, November 16 at 17:30: The chairman of the advisory council on migration of the city of Chemnitz, Pedro Montero, complained that the visit planned Friday by Chancellor Angela Merkel in the city is too late. "I do not know what the Chancellor wants to do with her visit," he told the German editorial network (RND, Friday). But many of Chemnitzern told him that the visit should have taken place earlier, Montero explained. "Personally, I think it's too late, I do not know why it's coming now." Talking again about late-August, early-September events was "inappropriate." At the end of August, a German was reportedly stabbed by asylum seekers in Chemnitz. Right-wing demonstrations and xenophobic attacks have therefore taken place.

Merkel's visit is focused on a debate with readers of the daily "Freie Presse", whose invitation is followed by the outgoing CDU president. To begin her visit, she attended the formation of two junior division junior basketball teams, the Chemnitz Niners. Subsequently, a meeting with the citizens is planned. Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) and the mayor of Chemnitz, Barbara Ludwig, also participate.

Meanwhile, controversial discussions in the city about Merkel's visit. From the point of view of Ludwig and representatives of social life, the visit is also too late. She expressed the hope that the Chancellor would quickly create her own image and speak to citizens of the city, said the SPD politician.

Ludwig invited Merkel to a dialogue with the citizens in October, early September and therefore immediately after the homicide. The Chancery did not answer. At the end of August, a 35-year-old Chemnitzer was probably stabbed by asylum seekers. The right-wing forces had captured the death of the man. A little later, demonstrations of AfD, Pegida and Pro Chemnitz took place. In addition, there have been xenophobic attacks and attacks on foreign restaurants in the city.

Just as the director of the town hall, Frank Müller, president of the Chemnitz Creative Industry Association. "In my opinion, the best time for visits of concern is unfortunately already finished," said the co-initiator of the initiative "#wedergraunochbraun". The merger of businesses, individuals and the creative industry has embarked on a cosmopolitan Chemnitz.