Consequence of Merkel’s open-border policy

A 21-year-old U.S. citizen was severely injured after being stabbed in the face by a Syrian national while intervening in a Dresden streetcar to protect women who were being harassed.

According to police reports, the young American stepped in to defend the women and was attacked with a knife during the confrontation.

He suffered grave facial injuries but survived the assault. One suspect, a Syrian immigrant, was arrested near the crime scene, while another accomplice remains at large. Authorities are still appealing to passengers who witnessed the incident to come forward.

Political Repercussions.

The case has quickly escalated into a national and international debate about Germany’s immigration policy. Petr Bystron, Member of the European Parliament and foreign policy spokesman for the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), directly blamed the attack on Angela Merkel’s controversial “Willkommenskultur” (Welcome Culture), the open-border policy launched during the 2015 migrant crisis.

“This is the consequence of Merkel’s open-border policy. Attacks like this happen in Germany every single day. Now it has affected a courageous American. We must work together with Trump to put an end to this madness,”
— Petr Bystron, AfD MEP

His remarks reflect growing concerns among critics who argue that Merkel’s decisions have fundamentally changed German society, bringing with them repeated instances of violent crime linked to immigrants.

A Broader Debate.

The stabbing comes at a time when Germany is already struggling with renewed tensions over immigration and security. Just weeks earlier, incidents involving asylum seekers made headlines in Berlin and Bavaria, fueling public anger and political pressure:

• In Berlin, a Syrian refugee was arrested after a stabbing at the Holocaust memorial.
• In Bavaria, a knife attack prompted CDU leader Friedrich Merz to vow to “seal Germany’s borders” and tighten asylum policies.

Together, these cases have reignited the national conversation on how Germany balances humanitarian obligations with public safety concerns.

Transatlantic Dimensions.

The victim’s American nationality adds a new dimension to the debate, as U.S. officials are closely monitoring the case. It also highlights how the consequences of European immigration policies resonate beyond Germany’s borders, potentially affecting U.S.–Germany relations at a sensitive geopolitical moment.

The Dresden attack is not only a personal tragedy but also a flashpoint in Germany’s ongoing struggle with immigration, integration, and security.

As the investigation continues, political parties across the spectrum are seizing on the case to push their competing visions of Germany’s future—whether to tighten borders and asylum laws or to defend the humanitarian principles of Merkel’s era.