The alleged murderer of a gas station employee in Rhineland-Palatinate justified the fatal shot with his rejection of the corona rules. Horror and sympathy are great nationwide.
Idar-Oberstein – After the fatal shot at a gas station employee in the dispute over the mask requirement, the investigators assume a lengthy investigation into the background.
“We have to get a clear picture of ourselves now,” said Chief Public Prosecutor Kai Fuhrmann on Tuesday in Mainz of the German Press Agency. This will take a few more weeks. During this time, the authority does not want to submit any water level reports on the crime in Idar-Oberstein (Rhineland-Palatinate). Fuhrmann: “The fine-tuning of the investigation is only really starting now.”
A 49-year-old who wanted to buy beer at the gas station is said to have shot the 20-year-old seller in the head on Saturday evening – after the young man had warned him twice about the corona-related mask requirement. The alleged shooter has confessed to the crime, the German citizen is in custody on suspicion of murder. According to the investigators, there is no evidence that the perpetrator and the victim knew each other.
The act caused great horror and sympathy nationwide. Chancellor candidates Annalena Baerbock (Greens) and Olaf Scholz (SPD) were also shaken.
I am very concerned about the radicalization of the maverick community. We are all challenged to stand against the growing hatred.
– Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) September 21, 2021
“The radicalization of the maverick milieu worries me very much,” wrote Baerbock in the short message service Twitter. “We are all challenged to stand against the increasing hatred.”
SPD chancellor candidate Scholz wrote on Twitter that his thoughts were with the relatives of the murder victim. “I am very shocked that someone is killed because they wanted to protect themselves and others,” emphasized Scholz. “As a society, we must resolutely oppose hatred.” The perpetrator must be severely punished.
My thoughts are with the relatives of the #IdarOberstein murder victim. I am very shocked that someone is killed because they wanted to protect themselves and others. As a society, we must resolutely oppose hatred. The perpetrator must be severely punished.
– Olaf Scholz (@OlafScholz) September 21, 2021
CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak reacted in a similar way. “A young person is almost executed for pointing out the mask requirement,” he wrote on Twitter and spoke of an “unbelievable degree of radicalization”. The Rhineland-Palatinate FDP leader and Federal Secretary General of the Liberals, Volker Wissing, said that his party was “with their thoughts with the family and friends of the victim” and that the crime was “unbearable”.
An unbelievable act, an unbelievable attack. A young person is almost executed for pointing out the mask requirement. An incredible amount of radicalization!
👇🏼https: //t.co/hYV54OwVmB– Paul Ziemiak (@PaulZiemiak) September 21, 2021
Federal Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht (SPD) was appalled by the approving reactions after the bloody act. “It is outrageous and disgusting when Idar-Oberstein’s terrible bloodshed is now being used online for even more hatred and even more contempt for human beings. Our rule of law must oppose the radicalization of violent Corona deniers with all means. “
The investigators hope for more clarity about the background of the crime from the evaluation of the seized electronic devices of the 49-year-old man. He last lived in Idar-Oberstein and worked as a freelancer in the IT industry. Investigators said that the man was “well versed” in the theories of the corona deniers.
The man from Idar-Oberstein, who had not yet appeared by the police, had told the investigators that he was rejecting the corona measures. As for the motive, he stated that the situation of the corona pandemic was a major burden on him and that he had seen no other way out than to set an example.
Investigations are ongoing
Senior Public Prosecutor Fuhrmann did not want to provide any precise information about the suspect’s life situation during the ongoing investigation. The man has never been noticed by the police anywhere, not even as a participant in a demonstration. “He did not legally own the weapons.” Where they came from is still completely unclear.
According to the criminal psychologist Lydia Benecke, the psychological background will be clarified during a forensic assessment of the alleged perpetrator. “Even if many people now want a quick answer to the question why such an act was committed: This is not possible at the moment,” said Benecke of the German Press Agency. “There can be very different backgrounds for such an act.” It must be examined whether a mental disorder or the effects of alcohol or drugs played a role.
The city of Idar-Oberstein in the Birkenfeld district wants to respond appropriately to the deed, a public commemoration is under discussion. A city spokesman said that mourning flags had been ordered for the city hall the day before. dpa
