Accordingly, on 29 June when the first evicted group of 300 to 400 migrants attacked the supervisory staff, they could only save themselves by hiding in the champions swimming pool area, reported regional daily, the Rheinische Post.
This was preceded by a dispute between a Turkish bather, his family of four and several young people, who quickly grew into a group of several hundred. The next day, a group of 100 people assaulted the police present and verbally abused the officials.
The latest report, which was made public after a request by the Free Democratic Party (FDP), also contradicted the statements of the police at the time, according to which the intervention on 29 June could “sustainably calm” the situation. What really happened was quite the opposite: the situation continued to escalate after the deployment of law enforcement.
The regional newspaper noted: “The growing group (about 300 – 400 people) started to attack the staff. A regular guest warned the staff that an attack on their colleagues had been planned. The supervisors were able to retire to the champions swimming pool area in time.” Later, chairs were thrown into the water and the diving tower was stormed.
The following day, the management of the swimming pool made hourly phone calls to to the police “to describe the aggression potential of the young people present”. When the officials were actually called in the early evening of June 30, “a cluster of about 100 youths who followed the police and cursed them” had formed.
Last month, the Rheinbad’s lifeguard spoke up and reported the attacks, insults and death threats by migrants against the recreational facility. Swimming champion Vladimir Chetverik said insults as well as threats of mothers being raped are common. Phrases like, “I kill you” or “I’ll set you on fire” were often heard.
In the Rheinbad there are no problems with overcrowding or too many people, Chetverik clarified. Rather, the problem is that there are “too many of the groups that cause us problems” present suggesting that the problem was of an ethnic nature. Bannings have not solved the problem, Chetverik added. “They climb over the fence or are simply not recognised at the cash register.”