Axe attack in Hattingen: 61-year-old critically injured, brother in custody
A passer-by discovered a 61-year-old man with life-threatening injuries in Hattingen. His brother is in custody on suspicion of attempted manslaughter.
Suspect arrested following SEK operation
A passer-by discovered a 61-year-old man with life-threatening injuries on a property visible from the street in Hattingen in the southern Ruhr area on Monday afternoon. According to reports, an axe is believed to have been used in the attack. A rescue helicopter flew the victim to a specialist clinic; by the evening, the man remained in critical condition.
The suspect, the victim's younger brother, was located in a neighbouring house, according to investigators. As officers could not rule out that he was armed, specialist forces were brought in. The SEK established initial contact with the man; he subsequently allowed himself to be arrested without resistance in front of the building, the Essen state prosecutor's office and Hagen police stated.
A judge then issued a warrant for the brother's arrest on suspicion of attempted manslaughter. He is now in custody pending trial.
The newspaper "Bild" had previously reported that a witness found a bleeding person in a driveway on Breddestraße with an axe embedded in their head. According to the state prosecutor's office, it remains unclear whether the location where the injured man was found is also the actual crime scene. Investigators have so far made no statements about the exact nature of the injuries; they declined to comment on reports of an axe being used.
Police and the state prosecutor's office provided no information on the background to the incident or any possible motive. According to media reports, the motive could be rooted in the personal sphere. The Essen state prosecutor's office is continuing investigations.
Source: WELT