Six killed in shooting in Stade – 45-year-old arrested over custody dispute
Six staff members were killed during a shooting rampage at a mother-and-child facility in Stade. A 45-year-old man was arrested.
Six killed in shooting in Stade – 45-year-old arrested over custody dispute
In the Lower Saxony town of Stade, a man killed six people in an attack on a facility for mothers and children. Police arrested a 45-year-old, according to 24ur.com.
The incident occurred on Monday at a youth facility. Five of the victims died at the scene, whilst a sixth person succumbed to severe injuries later in hospital. All those killed were employees of the facility or the responsible youth authority – four women and two men. None of the victims belonged to the family of the suspected perpetrator.
According to initial investigation findings, the incident was triggered by a dispute over custody of a three-month-old girl. The child had previously been temporarily removed from the family and subsequently returned to the mother under certain conditions. One of these conditions stipulated that mother and child must live in a supervised mother-and-child home. The 45-year-old father had an appointment at the facility on that day in connection with the ongoing custody proceedings.
The suspect comes from the Hanover region, was born in Germany and has Turkish roots. He was already known to police for threats but was not considered particularly violent. Following the shooting, he attempted to flee in a Mercedes with a female relative. Officers pursued the vehicle and fired at the tyres to bring it to a stop. Both the 45-year-old and the driver of the car are now in police custody. The woman, a family member, is currently being questioned. The 34-year-old mother of the infant is also being interviewed by investigators.
Police confirmed that the suspect did not possess a firearms licence. The type of gun used in the shooting was initially not disclosed by investigators. German media circulated speculation about possible connections between the man and the so-called Miri clan. However, police leadership and Lower Saxony Interior Minister Daniela Behrens firmly rejected these rumours. Behrens emphasised that this was an "isolated incident" and there were no indications of links to organised crime.
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed shock at the shooting: "The news from Stade has deeply shaken us. Many people who wanted to help and protect others have lost their lives or been injured." He offered his condolences to the families of the victims and thanked emergency personnel for their swift response. Investigations into the exact circumstances and course of the incident are ongoing.
Source: 24ur