Shots fired at bus in Hamburg-Neugraben: SEK arrests three teenagers
Three teenagers are alleged to have fired shots at a moving bus in Hamburg. The SEK searched flats – a weapon was found in a cellar.
SEK searches flats after shots fired at bus in Neugraben
Hamburg police arrested three male teenagers, aged 14, 15 and 17, on Saturday morning after shots were allegedly fired at a scheduled bus on Friday evening. According to BILD, the incidents occurred around 20:50 in front of the S-Bahn station in the district of Neugraben.
The incidents were preceded by a dispute: a 16-year-old girl became involved in a conflict with the three male teenagers and fled into a bus on line 251. Shortly after the vehicle departed, witnesses heard several gunshot sounds. Several panes of the bus were damaged. Police initially spoke of "shots-like sounds".
At the time of the shots, three passengers were on the bus, including the 16-year-old girl. No one was injured. The driver continued with the damaged vehicle to Neuwiedenthal S-Bahn station, while the three teenagers fled in an unknown direction.
Large-scale manhunt and murder commission
Immediately after the incident, an extensive manhunt was launched with several patrol cars, officers from the Federal Police and a police dog. Initially, the search was unsuccessful. Criminal police took over initial investigations at the scene; later that night, the case fell within the jurisdiction of the murder commission. According to BILD, no shell casings were initially found at the scene.
Investigators apparently received crucial leads quickly and identified the three suspects. On Saturday morning, police officers searched the flats of the teenagers in the districts of Neuenfelde and Bahrenfeld. In Neuenfelde, the Special Operations Unit (SEK) was called in for this purpose.
In the cellar of the 17-year-old's flat, officers discovered a firearm together with ammunition. As emerged later, it was an air-pressure weapon.
Investigations into weapons law violations and attempted assault
Mia-Christine Sperling-Karstens, spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office, told BILD: "Investigations are being conducted against the teenagers on suspicion of violating the weapons law. Against the 17-year-old, there are also investigations on suspicion of attempted dangerous assault."
According to police, the teenagers are alleged to have handled the weapon before the incident at the S-Bahn station and conducted target practice in the Königswiesen area in Neugraben-Fischbek.
After questioning, all three teenagers were released on bail. According to the authorities' assessment, there were no grounds for detention.
Source: BILD