Double murder at school in Gosen-Neu Zittau: Detention bid against 19-year-old
A 19-year-old German is alleged to have killed an 18-year-old pupil and a 30-year-old educator at a Brandenburg school. The prosecution applied for remand in custody on charges of double murder.
Detention bid following fatal assault at Brandenburg school
One day after the deaths of an 18-year-old pupil and a 30-year-old educator at a school in Gosen-Neu Zittau, the public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt an der Oder has filed a motion for remand in custody against the arrested suspect. According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the 19-year-old is accused of double murder motivated by base motives. An investigating judge must now decide on the motion.
The incident occurred on Thursday in the municipality on the state border with Berlin. The deceased 18-year-old is believed to have been the suspect's former girlfriend. The educator apparently came to the young woman's aid – and was also killed in the process. The 19-year-old German was arrested shortly after the incident and has not commented on the allegations so far. He had no previous criminal record.
It had previously been mistakenly believed that the 30-year-old victim was the caretaker. In fact, he worked as an educator in the kindergarten, which is located on the same site as a primary school and a secondary school.
On the evening of the incident itself, well over a hundred people gathered in front of the school to lay flowers and light candles. Many wept and held one another in their arms.
"This is not something that is normal at a school," said Michael Kunz, spokesman for Academedia Education GmbH, the parent company of the Docemus schools. "The pupil was well known to everyone." It will be very difficult to return to any form of normality, Kunz said. On Friday, the school was open as a "meeting place" and site of mourning.
The Brandenburg education ministry stated that school psychological specialists would be available to support pupils and teachers. Emergency pastoral care was also on site. "We are trying to be a safe space," said Stefan Baier from Emergency Pastoral Care Brandenburg in the RBB24 special. Lessons at the neighbouring public primary school did not take place as normal on Friday; the children received psychological support.
The district administration stated: "Our condolences go in these hours to the relatives and friends of the victims – and to all pupils and teachers who experienced something incomprehensible on Thursday."
Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) also expressed his condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims. "In a terrible attack, two people have died. This act shakes our entire state," said Woidke. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung