Open dialogue after knife attack: Bielefeld discusses fears and solutions”

Open dialogue after knife attack: Bielefeld discusses fears and solutions”

In Bielefeld, a tragic knife attack occurred in front of the “Cutie” bar on May 18, 2025, which caused great concern in the city. In response to this incident, the conflict academy “ConflictA” is planning a public dialogue evening that will take place on May 28, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the knowledge workshop city of Bielefeld. The motto of the event is “Speaking after the attack” and aims to offer people space to talk about their experiences and fears and process them together.

Mareike Wilke from “ConflictA” emphasizes the importance of open exchange, especially in times of fear and uncertainty. The academy, which was founded in 2023 at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research (IKG) at Bielefeld University, specializes in analyzing and passing on knowledge and experiences on how to deal with intra-societal conflicts. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Andreas Zick, director of the IKG, “ConflictA” wants to promote dialogue and thus contribute to social stability.

Open conversation formats for everyone

The event on May 28th will offer special formats that take place without any formal hurdles. Participants are invited to contribute their thoughts and questions while experts provide initial assessments. In order to enable more intensive exchange, small groups are also set up. These will deal with topics such as personal impressions, fears, Islam and Islamism, social solidarity and extremism prevention. The discussion groups are led by experts and employees of the IKG.

“ConflictA” has set itself the goal of promoting the return of research knowledge into qualification and professionalization offers, especially for civil society actors and public service institutions. The event is expressly aimed at all people in Bielefeld, regardless of origin, religion or political opinion. Admission is free and registration is not required. Further information can be found on the Wissenwerkstadt website: www.wissenswerkstadt.de/cutie.

A dialogue for society

In times of social challenges, it is important to promote understanding and trust between different population groups. “ConflictA” makes this possible through applied research and active conflict management. The academy sees itself as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and expertise and would like to encourage citizens to deal with conflicts constructively.

The funding is also supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). “ConflictA” plans to run until December 2024 with pilot studies, the results of which will flow into the first funding phase until March 2027. In this context, the upcoming event offers a valuable opportunity for exchange, to work together on solutions and to strengthen social resilience.